bounty hack for some (non-Mike) Schemer out there

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hello all!

A few weeks ago, in response to Mike Solomon's call for features and bugs, I 
posted a request:

>> 2. Allowing a text markup (especially a MetronomeMark) to have a "minimum 
>> measure length". This would avoid collisions, particularly where there are 
>> lots of multi-measure rests (e.g., orchestral parts).

His response was:

> #2 is doable via a hack.  Minimum lengths can only work if you use spanners, 
> but you can hijack the tempo print function for a text spanner (and suppress 
> the line afterwards) and then create a scheme engraver for text spanner that 
> uses whatever as the left bound and the next bar line's non-musical paper 
> column as the right bound.  Or you could just use the existing engraver and 
> use the last note in the measure as a bound, although this will potentially 
> create uneven spacing in a measure.
> 
> You'll have to manually put this TextSpanner in the topmost context and/or 
> use ly:side-position-interface::move-to-extremal-staff (I'd recommend the 
> former, as the latter is powerful but falls in the category of LilyPond black 
> magic).  Make sure to use springs and rods and set a minimum-length - there's 
> an example in the docs with a hairpin or glissando or something spanner-y 
> that does this.

Is there anyone out there who can work on this with me? I've got some money to 
put towards the implementation.

Thanks!
Kieren.