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How To: Typeset Carnatic Music
- One text box for each phrase (swaras/notes)
- One text box for each syllable in sahitya/lyrics
- Arrange phrases and sahityas using alignment and distribution tools (ctrl-alt-a)
- Recent versions of Inkscape supports intelligent alignment of text.
- spacing between swaras in a single textbox can be changed using inter letter spacing. Avoid hitting space-bars unnecessarily.
Read the Style-Guide:-Scoring-Beautiful-Music
Step 1: Type the notes (and Sahityam, if any) in a text editor or in a single text-box in inkscape
The following guidelines may be helpful to type notation in plain text: text-notation
srg srg sr srgm pdns snd snd sn sndp mgrs
or
பம ரீ காகா ரிஸரீ நிரிஸநி தப தநிஸ ரிஸரி பாம காரிஸரி
ச ல மே ல ஜே ஸே வு ரா
Use a single space to separate phrases. Note the spacings in srg srg sr. Don’t try to align (Lyrics to notes etc.), and don’t worry about bar lines, speed markers (underline/overline) and stayi/octave markers (dots above/below) for now.
You can type one or more avarthams per line. For some kritis multiple avarthams in a line will make it more readable. Later in the same composition you may choose to write a different number of avarthams per line.
Step 2: Bring it into Inkscape, divide lines.
Copy-paste to a textbox. Extensions -> Text -> Split Text... Split Lines
Now we have the individual lines of swarams and sahityams in their own text box. Time for approximating vertical alignment.
Decide where the first and last lines should go. Put them there. Use Alignment & Distribution tools to distribute other lines, and fine tune a few lines manually.
Step 3: Divide Words, and align
Extensions -> Text -> Split Text... Split Words
Remember we used spaces to separate phrases? Now we have all our phrases separated out, so each of them can be moved and tweaked.
Work with the phrases, adjust the spacing, alignment etc. (don’t worry about the dots, hyphens/underlines etc. for now)
Step 4: Add barlines, dots, underlines. Finishing Touches
Use the drawing tools to add barlines, underlines (speed indications), dots above/below (octave), add titles, fine tune spacing and alignment.
Tips and Tricks
- Inkscape’s alignment and distribution tools are very useful. Work with them.
- After splitting words, we can group all the words in a line. Words can still be moved around by ungroup/move/regroup or using right-click, Enter Group
- In the text mode, we can fine tune the spacing between swaras within a phrase using the Spacing between letters or Horizontal Kerning tools. Check the text mode toolbar.
Word processor / Spreadsheet
Arun’s carnatic music typesetter
Carmusty – latex