#2453 Long syllables shouldn't be centered under notes

[Anonymous]

Originally created by: *anonymous

Originally created by: janek.li...@gmail.com
Originally owned by: janek.li...@gmail.com

I suggest that long lyric syllabes shouldn't begin further than 2 or 3 staffspaces to the left of the note, i.e. they shouldn't be centered (unless user explicitly specifies alignment).

See examples from engraved scores: http://lilypond-stuff.1065243.n5.nabble.com/examples-for-Lyric-report-long-syllabes-examples-td5607319.html

In addition to aesthetically better results, this would allow automatic placement of long recitatives sung to one note - currently user has to manually override lyric alignment each time such situation occurs.

This issue is a part of the Lyrics Project.  See related entries:
issue 2450
issue 2451
issue 2452
issue 2453
issue 2454
issue 2455
issue 2456
issue 2457
issue 2458
issue 2459
issue 2460
issue 2461
issue 2462

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Originally posted by: PhilEHol...@googlemail.com

This enhancement is supported by Elaine Gould (although she's not told me directly...).  Page 439.  "Centre each syllable directly under its note.  For very long syllables, place only the first two or three letters to the left of the note so that the syllable does not start too far before its sung note."

Summary: Long syllables shouldn't be centered under notes

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Originally posted by: janek.li...@gmail.com

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Status: done

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Originally posted by: PhilEHol...@googlemail.com

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Status: Fixed

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Originally posted by: PhilEHol...@googlemail.com

Sorry - used wrong status in my change.

Status: Accepted

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Originally posted by: janek.li...@gmail.com

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Blockedon: lilypond:3239
Status: Started

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Originally posted by: janek.li...@gmail.com

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Blockedon: -lilypond:3239 lilypond:3979
Status: Accepted

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Originally posted by: janek.li...@gmail.com

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Labels: Janek_alignment_changes

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Originally posted by: simon.al...@mail.de

Workaround:

\version "2.19.23"
selfAl =
#(define-music-function (al) (number?)
   (once (override '(LyricText self-alignment-X) al)))

\lyricmode { \selfAl #-0.5 straight }

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Originally posted by: simon.al...@mail.de

Issue 808 has been merged into this issue.

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Originally posted by: dak@gnu.org

Oh shiver me timbers.

The commit message for issue 4498 states:

    Issue 4498: Provide music functions property{Override,Revert,Set,Unset}
   
    The previous music functions `override' and `revert' (intentionally
    colliding with the respective keywords) are removed.  It would have been
    too confusing to have collisions for `set' and `unset' as well which are
    just too similar to existing Scheme constructs.
   
    A convert-ly rule for the previous calls override/revert is not
    attempted: they have not yet been documented and have been available
    only for one unstable version.  Whoever happened to use them already is
    capable of replacing them.

So the code in comment #8 will _only_ work in version 2.19.23.  On the positive side, assuming that issue 4505 will also make it into 2.19.24, you'll be able to write

\version "2.19.24"
selfAl = \once \override LyricText.self-alignment-X = \etc

\lyricmode { \selfAl #-0.5 straight }

However, you are likely better off with a tweak anyway.  So that would be

\version "2.19.24"
\selfAl = \tweak self-alignment-X \etc

\lyricmode { \selfAl #-0.5 straight }

Except that this does not work unless you write

\lyricmode { \selfAl #-0.5 \markup straight }

since otherwise the "override mode" of \tweak triggers and tries doing this as
\override straight.self-alignment-X = #-0.5

Ouch.  Lyric mode and symbols as potential music function arguments are icky.  So one probably wants a manually defined \selfAl function after all, one that does _only_ accept a music argument to tweak, not a grob specification.