Re: Lyrics and centering

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi, Michael:

> In regards to lyric placement, you now have me highly intrigued.
> So I surveyed a number of sources. Sorry about the length.

No problem (at least for me). Thank you for doing the survey -- we  
now have a nice reference online (i.e., in the list archive)!

As for the "automatic placement" issue, I have to say that I do a  
fair bit of manual tweaking of my lyrics, in order to "make it fit"  
or "make it look good" -- as you indicated, I think Lilypond does a  
pretty amazing job, considering how complex (and, often, subjective)  
the process is.

Shortcuts I use regularly include:

    lyrLQ = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.25 }
    lyrLH = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.5 }
    lyrLM = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.75 }
    lyrL = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-1 }
    lyrRQ = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.25 }
    lyrRH = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.5 }
    lyrRM = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.75 }
    lyrR = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #1 }

where "Q" means "quarter of the way to L/R alignment", "H" means  
"half...", and "M" means "most". I use these to shift syllables at  
the beginnings or ends of measures, or (especially) to float long  
syllables under the rest(s) preceding or following the note, in order  
to even out the note spacing.

I've already mentioned the other tweak I regularly use, i.e.,

    lyrMX = \once \override LyricText #'X-offset = #-0.5

which I use to "soften" the left-alignment of melismas.

Anyone else have Lyric adjustment tips?

Cheers,
Kieren.