Re: Problem with repeat alternative endings that contain lyrics andleading rests

[Trevor Daniels]

Nathan Ho wrote Wednesday, March 25, 2015 9:01 AM

> On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Peter Heisen
> <address@hidden> wrote:
>>
>> The LilyPond notation reference, section 2.1.2,
>> (http://www.lilypond.org/doc/v2.18/Documentation/notation/techniques-specific-to-lyrics)
>> contains the following example of how to use lyrics in concert with repeat
>> alternative endings.  It compiles fine in version 2.18.2, showing both the
>> first and second endings complete with lyrics:
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> In the following modified example, the first beat of each ending has been
>> changed to a rest, and a syllable removed from the lyrics to match.  Now
>> when compiled, it shows two first endings and two second endings.?
> 
> It displays properly if you remove the \repeat ... \alternative
> structure from the lyrics:
...
> The reason is that the lyric code creates first and second endings
> that line themselves up with the first lyric event they see, and it's
> not aware of the rests going on in the Staff. So you get two
> misaligned volta repeat systems, causing the funky output.
> 
> I'm not entirely sure how to enter the structure into the lyrics in a
> way that lines up with the staff. Either way, I feel that the code in
> the documentation is misleading.

Unfortunately there is no clear recipe for entering lyrics and 
repeats which will work in all circumstances, as all the suggestions
are work-arounds due to there being no well-defined interface in
LilyPond for handling repeats in lyrics.  The presence of rests is
a particular problem which does not figure in the examples in the
Notation Reference.  Maybe it should, but the doc writers are
always wary of increasing the length of these already very large
manuals.

Trevor