Abjad helps composers build up complex pieces of music notation in iterative and incremental ways. Use Abjad to create a symbolic representation of all the notes, rests, chords, tuplets, beams and slurs in any score. Because Abjad extends the Python programming language, you can use Abjad to make systematic changes to music as you work. Because Abjad wraps the LilyPond music notation package, you can use Abjad to control the typographic detail of symbols on the page.

Abjad's documentation is available here: https://abjad.github.io

Abjad's install instructions are tested on macOS and Linux.

Abjad requires Python 3.10 or later:

~$ python --version
Python 3.11.0

Abjad requires LilyPond 2.23.6 or later.

Make sure LilyPond is installed: http://lilypond.org/development.html

Make sure LilyPond is callable from the commandline:

$ lilypond --version
GNU LilyPond 2.23.80 (running Guile 2.2)

Create a Python 3 virtual environment for Abjad: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/venv.html

Activate the virtual environment and then use pip to install Abjad:

~$ python -m pip install abjad

Start Python, import Abjad, start making music notation:

~$ python
>>> import abjad
>>> note = abjad.Note("c'4")
>>> abjad.show(note)

Join the Abjad community: https://abjad.github.io/appendices/community.html