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Positioning phrases relatively

This tutorial describes a recent and still somewhat experimental addition to the Phrase class in jMusic.

It is important to qualify at this point that these additions are still in their testing stage, that they currently have some flaws and that the new
methods are not yet set in stone. The implementation and the interface to access these additions can and probably will change as these
flaws are corrected.

This feature provides for Phrases to be positioned relative to one another. For example, one can set a Phrase to end at the same time as another.
This relationship remains true even if either Phrase increases or decreases in duration.

There are nine relationships currently defined. You can specify a phrase to {start, centre or end} at the {start, centre, or end} of another phrase.
For each combination it is also possible to specify a positive of negative offset. So, for example, you can have a phrase begin 1 bar after the start of another. Or to end 2 beats before the centre of another.

Here is a program which demonstrates this new phrase alignment feature.
It creates a canon of the traditional french nursery rhyme Frère Jacques. The arrangement is by Patrice Bourgès-Rouhaut.

If you would like to view or download the source code seperately, click here.

This is what the canon will sound like.

import             jm.JMC;
import jm.music.tools.Mod;
import        jm.util.Write;
import  jm.music.data.*;

public final class FrereJacques implements JMC 
{
    private FrereJacques() 
    {   
    }
    
    public static final void main(final String[] args) 
    {
            Part part = new Part(leader);
            
            Phrase voice2 = leader.copy();
            Phrase voice3 = leader.copy();
            Phrase voice4 = leader.copy();
            part.addPhrase(voice2);
            part.addPhrase(voice3);
            part.addPhrase(voice4);
            voice2.attemptAnchoringTo(leader, START_TOGETHER, 2 * BAR);
            voice3.attemptAnchoringTo(voice2, START_TOGETHER, 2 * BAR);
            voice4.attemptAnchoringTo(voice3, START_TOGETHER, 2 * BAR);

            Score score = new Score(part);
            score.setTempo(ALLEGRO);
            Write.midi(score, "frere-jacques.mid");
    }
    
    private static final double BEAT    = CROTCHET;
    
    private static final double BAR     = 4 * BEAT;
    
    private static final double ALLEGRO = 110.0;
    
    private static final Phrase leader = new Phrase(0 * BEAT, PIANO);
    static {
            // Frere Jacques,
            for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(G4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(A4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(B4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote((i == 0) 
                                   ? articulatedNote(G4, CROTCHET, LEGATO)
                                   : new Note(G4, CROTCHET));
            }
            // Dormez-vous?
            for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(B4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(C5, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(new Note(D5, MINIM));
            }
            // Sonnez les matines,
            for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(D5, DOTTED_QUAVER, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(E5, SEMI_QUAVER, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(D5, QUAVER, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(C5, QUAVER, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(B4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote((i ==0) 
                                   ? articulatedNote(G4, CROTCHET, LEGATO)
                                   : new Note(G4, CROTCHET));
            }
            // Ding! Deng! Dong!
            for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(G4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(articulatedNote(D4, CROTCHET, LEGATO));
                    leader.addNote(new Note(G4, MINIM));
            }   
            leader.setDynamic(P);
            Mod.crescendo(leader, 2 * BAR, (2 * BAR) + (2 *BEAT), P, MF);
            Mod.crescendo(leader, 3 * BAR, (3 * BAR) + (2 *BEAT), P, MF);
            Mod.diminuendo(leader, 4 * BAR, 5 * BAR, F, P);
            Mod.diminuendo(leader, 5 * BAR, 7 * BAR, F, P);
    }
    
    private static final Note articulatedNote(final int pitch, final double rv,
                                              final double articulation) 
    {
            Note note = new Note(pitch, rv);
            note.setDuration(rv * articulation);
            return note;
    }
}