Re: Wide spacing after extremely long syllable

[Simon Albrecht]

On 09.03.2016 03:14, markdblackwell wrote:
> After an extremely long syllable in the lyrics, the next measure's spacing is
> quite wide, even with ragged-right.
>
> In the tiny example below, the problematic measure (of two eighth notes)
> comprises the word, "shine".

First thing I think of would be a completely different route – don’t 
know if it fits into your entire framework:

\version "2.19.37"
\paper {
  left-margin = 5\mm
  right-margin = 5\mm
  ragged-right = ##t
}
\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \remove "Time_signature_engraver"
  }
}
theLyrics = \lyricmode {
  Rest4 e -- ter -- nal grant un -- to them, O Lord,
  and let light per -- pe -- tu -- al
  \once \override LyricText.self-alignment-X = #LEFT
  shine on
}
notes = \relative c'' {
  \cadenzaOn
  a1*17/4
  \bar "|"
  a8[( c]) \break
  \bar "|"
  a4
}
\score {
  <<
    \new Staff
    \new Voice = "one" \notes
    \new Lyrics \theLyrics
  >>
}

HTH,
Simon