Re: Need information about Lyric spacing in Lilypond

[Arjan Bos]

On 12 feb 2009, at 23:36, M Watts wrote:

> fzimmerman wrote:
> > Dave,
> >
> > Thanks for the quick reply.  I have two other computers in the  
> > house that
> > have Windows on them (I run a home-based computer support  
> > business), so I
> > can use Sibelius on them if I have to...but I would rather switch to
> > Lilypond.
>
> A very wise choice indeed.  The place to start reading for lyrics is:
>
> http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.12/Documentation/user/lilypond/Vocal-music#Vocal-music
>
> Lilypond's default spacing and alignment for lyrics is better than  
> Finale and co., as described here
> http://www.musicbyandrew.ca/finale-lilypond-3.html
>
> Using Lilypond's \override, \set or \tweak commands, either on their  
> own, or with \once, gives you complete control over where things go  
> on your page.

Perhaps you can use the following template as a starting point. It  
only contains one voice and three stanzas, but you'll get the idea.
In lilypond, you can break a line only when there is a bar line symbol  
printed. The command \bar"" makes sure that there is an invisible bar  
line. So the command sequence \bar "" \break ensures a line break at  
the desired point. There is no direct need for \override, \set or  
\tweak commands at this stage

HTH,
Arjan

%% start snippet
\version "2.12.1"

\header {
  title = "58 See How the Flowers are Arrayed"
  tagline = #(string-append "Set by Bos Bros; engraved by LilyPond  
" (lilypond-version))
}

global = \notemode { \key c \major \time 4/4}

sopMusic = \notemode {
  \relative c' {
    \partial 4 c4
    e4. c8 c4 d |
    e4 f d d |
    d4. d8 d4 b |
    c4 d c \bar "" \break e |

    e4. c8 c4 d |
    e4 f d d |
  }
}

%% end snip

chordProgression = \chordmode {
  \partial 4 s4
  c1 c4 f g2 |
  d2.:min e4:min |
  f4 g c2 |
  c1 |

}

sopTextA = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "1."
  See how the flow -- ers are ar -- rayed ac -- cord -- ing to the  
plan God made;
  To show His glo -- ry and His skill,
}

sopTextB = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "2."
  But when man fell, he lost this dres and felt his shame -- ful na  
-- ked -- ness.
  He then took leaves, and quick -- ly made
}

sopTextC = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "3."
  And when God chose a Priest from men, to show the work of Christ in  
heav'n,
  His dress was ve -- ry dig -- ni -- fied

}

\score {
  <<
    \override Score.VerticalAxisGroup #'remove-first = ##t
    \context ChordNames {
      \set chordChanges = ##t
      \chordProgression
    }
    \context Staff = sopranos {
      \context Voice = "sopranos" {
        << \global \sopMusic >>
      }
    }
    \context Lyrics = sopranos
    <<
      \lyricsto sopranos \new Lyrics { \sopTextA }
      \lyricsto sopranos \new Lyrics { \sopTextB }
      \lyricsto sopranos \new Lyrics { \sopTextC }
    >>
  >>

  \layout {
    \context {
      \RemoveEmptyStaffContext
    }
  }
}

lyricsSpacingTest.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document