Fixed slope beams

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibu nps :

initiates an upper beam 3 horizontal line spacings above the pitch p ; m is its reference number, which must be in the range [0-5] ([0-9] if normalshapemediumseriesmusicadd file has been normalshapemediumseries\ input); s is the slope of the beam.

s is an integer in the range [-9,9]. s = 1 means a slope of 5%, s = 9 means a slope of 45% (the maximum with the normalshapemediumseriesbeamn20 or normalshapemediumseriesbeamn16 fonts), s = - 3 means a slope of -15%, etc. With usual spacings a slope of 2 or 3 is fit for ascending scales. A slope of 6 to 9 is fit for ascending arpeggios.

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibl nps :

initiates a lower beam 3 horizontal line spacings below the pitch p. Other parameters as above.

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbu nps :

initiates a double upper beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbl nps :

initiates a double lower beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbu nps :

initiates a triple upper beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbl nps :

initiates a triple lower beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbbu nps :

initiates a quadruple upper beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbbl nps :

initiates a quadruple lower beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbbbu nps :

initiates a quintuple upper beam (same parameter meaning).

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbbbl nps :

initiates a quintuple lower beam (same parameter meaning).

Beam termination is also not automatic. The termination of a given beam must be explicitely declared before coding the last spacing note connected to that beam.

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbu n :

terminates upper beam number n at current position.

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbl n :

terminates lower beam number n at current position.

normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbu and normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbl terminate beams of any multiplicity. Therefore 32-th notes hanging on a triple beam are initiated by normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibbbu nps and terminated by normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbu n.

It is also possible to code beams whose multiplicity is not the same at the beginning. The multiplicity can be increased at any position. For instance, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbu n which sets the multiplicity of upper beam number n to 2 starting at the current position, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbbu n sets its multiplicity to 3, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbbbu n sets its multiplicity to 4, and normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbbbbu n sets it to 5. normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbl n ... normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\nbbbbbl n perform the same functions for lower beams.

Notes hanging or standing on beams are coded in the form normalshapemediumseries\qhn  p and normalshapemediumseries\qbn  p where n is the beam number and p the pitch of the note head. MusicTEX adjusts the length of the note stem to link the bottom of the chord to an upper beam (normally with normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\qh) and the top of the chord to a lower beam (normally with normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\qb).

Note that the difference between upper and lower beams does not mainly consist in the beam being above or below the note heads; rather, it specifies whether the abscissa of the beginning and the end of this beam is aligned on the right (upper beam) or on the left (lower) beam. Thus, the sequence:

has been coded as

\notes\ibu0h0\qh0e\nbbu0\qh0e\nbbbu0\qh0e\nbbbu0\relax
\qh0e\nbbbbu0\qh0e\nbbbbbu0\qh0e\tbu0\qh0e\enotes

It is quite possible to terminate with normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbu a beam initiated with normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\ibl. This may give:

which has been coded as

\notes\ibl0p0\qb0p\nbbl0\qb0p\nbbbl0\qb0p\tbu0\qh0e\enotes

The macros normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbu and normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbl may also be invoked when only a single beam is active. Then, a second beam (upper or lower according the initiating procedure) is opened one note width before the current position, and closed immediately. Thus the following sequence

is coded:

\notes\ibu0e0\qh0e\tbbu0\tbu0\qh0e\enotes

The same behaviour occurs in the case of normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbu, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbl, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbbu, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbbl, normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbbbu and normalshapemediumseriesnormalshapemediumseries\tbbbbbl.

The symmetrical pattern is also possible. For example:

has been coded as:

\Notes\ibbl0j0\rlap{\qsk\tbbl0}\qb0j\tbl0\qb0j\enotes

REMARK: these codings may seem complicated. In fact, it is the responsibility of the user to define macros which perform the most common sequences in his masterpiece. For example, one could define sets of four sixteenths by the macro:

normalshapemediumseries\defnormalshapemediumseries\qqh# 1# 2# 3# 4# 5{ %

normalshapemediumseries\ibbl0# 2# 1normalshapemediumseries\qh # 2normalshapemediumseries\qh # 3normalshapemediumseries\tbl0normalshapemediumseries\qh # 4}

where the first argument is the slope and the other four arguments are the pitches of the four consecutive sixteenths wanted.