Greetings All, I preface this by acknowledging that I know nothing about the innerworkings of MIDI. In section 3.5.7 of the NR, which deals with MIDI channel mapping, there appears to be a discrepancy in the wording about channels and tracks. The third paragraph implies that channels and tracks are synonymous, stating that LilyPond creates separate MIDI tracks for staves, instruments, or voices depending on the value of Score.midiChannelMapping. This is immediately followed by the statement that there is no limit to the number of tracks. The impression left is that layers upon layers of sound could be generated. This obviously is not true. The Selected Snippet at the bottom of that page states that only 16 channels are available per track and then details ways of avoiding the running out of channels. This page appears to need some clarification. I would offer replacement text, but knowing nothing on the topic, I am hardly qualified. I simply know from experience that midiChannelMapping offers a bit of wiggle room in an otherwise restrictive situation, especially for orchestral or other large ensemble context.
Hwaen Ch'uqi
