Freedom251 › Music notation software
Frescobaldi
What Frescobaldi is
Frescobaldi is a free LilyPond sheet music text editor for writing and editing scores. Its text editor offers syntax highlighting and automatic completion, while a music view connects the notation with its text source through Point & Click. A Score Wizard helps configure a score, and the Snippet Manager stores reusable text, templates, and scripts. Frescobaldi can play MIDI files generated by LilyPond and capture MIDI input for entering music. It imports MusicXML, MIDI, and ABC, and includes tools for transposition, rhythm changes, note-name language changes, and lyric hyphenation using word-processor dictionaries. Smart layout controls include coloring selected objects in a PDF. Users can configure interface colors, fonts, and keyboard shortcuts. The program supports multiple LilyPond versions and selects the appropriate version automatically. Frescobaldi is Free Software under the GNU General Public License, with a listed plan price of $0. It is desktop software for Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. macOS and Windows download instructions call for installing LilyPond; the Flatpak package includes LilyPond and running dependencies. The project directs bug reports and feature requests to its issue tracker and offers a mailing list.
Who it suits
Frescobaldi suits musicians and score editors who want to work with LilyPond text while viewing and interacting with the resulting notation. It also fits people who need MusicXML, MIDI, or ABC import, or tools for score editing, layout, and MIDI entry.
What it does well
- Free Software under the GNU General Public License.
- Syntax highlighting and automatic completion for score text.
- Point & Click links the music view and text source.
- Imports MusicXML, MIDI, and ABC.
- Includes transposition, rhythm, and lyric editing functions.
- Configurable colors, fonts, and keyboard shortcuts.
What to know first
- macOS and Windows users are instructed to install LilyPond.
- The listed deployment is desktop, despite web being among the platforms.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Frescobaldi | Free Software · GNU General Public License | Free |
As frescobaldi.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.frescobaldi.org/ to find the software.
- Choose a version for Linux, macOS, Windows, or the web.
- Install LilyPond separately on macOS or Windows, or use the Flatpak package that bundles LilyPond and running dependencies.
- Open a score or use the Score Wizard to set one up.
- Use the editor, music view, and Snippet Manager to work on the score.
Verdict
Choose Frescobaldi if you want a free LilyPond text editor with score preview, MIDI tools, and score-editing functions. Look elsewhere if you need an editor that does not depend on separately installing LilyPond on macOS or Windows.
Questions
How much does Frescobaldi cost?
The listed plan is free. Frescobaldi is Free Software under the GNU General Public License.
Which platforms are listed?
Linux, macOS, web, and Windows are listed. Deployment is identified as desktop.
Can it import MusicXML and MIDI?
Yes. It imports MusicXML, MIDI, and ABC, and also supports MusicXML and MIDI.
Does Frescobaldi include LilyPond?
The download instructions tell macOS and Windows users to install LilyPond. Its Flatpak package bundles LilyPond and running dependencies.
Where can users get project support?
The project directs bug reports and feature requests to its issue tracker and lists a mailing list for Frescobaldi.
Facts from Frescobaldi's own pages
- Customization
- The user interface supports configurable colors, fonts, and keyboard shortcuts. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- The download page instructs users to install LilyPond for macOS and Windows; its Flatpak package bundles LilyPond and running dependencies. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- desktop · frescobaldi.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · frescobaldi.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Import
- Frescobaldi supports MusicXML, MIDI, and ABC import. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Layout
- Smart layout controls include coloring specific objects in the PDF. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- LilyPond
- Frescobaldi supports multiple LilyPond versions and automatically selects the correct version. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- MIDI
- Frescobaldi can play LilyPond-generated MIDI files and capture MIDI to enter music. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- MIDI support
- Yes · frescobaldi.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Music editing
- Music functions include transposition, rhythm changes, note-name language changes, and lyric hyphenation using word-processor dictionaries. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Music preview
- Its music view provides advanced Point & Click between the score and its text source. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- MusicXML support
- Yes · frescobaldi.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Parts extraction
- Yes · frescobaldi.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Platforms
- The project says Frescobaldi is designed to run on Linux, macOS, and Windows. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Frescobaldi is a LilyPond sheet music text editor designed to be powerful, lightweight, and easy to use. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Score setup
- The Score Wizard helps users set up a music score. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The project describes Frescobaldi as Free Software under the GNU General Public License; the official pages opened provide no security or compliance claims. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Snippets
- The Snippet Manager stores and applies text snippets, templates, or scripts. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs bug reports and feature requests to its issue tracker and lists a mailing list for Frescobaldi. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Text editing
- The editor provides syntax highlighting and automatic completion. · frescobaldi.org, 9 Oct 2026
Where Frescobaldi stands on Freedom251
- Music notation software#15 of 38