Re: aligning melisma and non-melisma lyrics across staves in the same system

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi David,

>> I know there is a way to have accidentals “cross-canceled” between staves in 
>> the same system.
>> (I’ve used it… and it’s wonderful!)
> 
> I don't; what is it?

%%%  SNIPPET BEGINS
\version "2.19.31"

\layout {
  \context {
    \Score
    \accidentalStyle modern
  }
}

staffA = {
  c''4 cis'' c''2
}

staffB = {
  d''2 c''  
}


\markup \fontsize #2 "DEFAULT BEHAVIOUR:"
\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \staffA
    \new Staff \staffB
  >>
}

\markup \fontsize #2 "CROSS-STAFF CANCELLATION:"
\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \staffA
    \new Staff \staffB
  >>
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      localAlterations = #'()
      autoCautionaries = #`(Score ,(make-accidental-rule 'any-octave 0))
    }
  }
}
%%%  SNIPPET ENDS

> do you mean doing this manually or automatically?

Automatically.
I currently do it manually (post-hoc, using the edition-engraver).

> 1) If there's a lyric extender on a lyric which is being attached to a
> non-melisma note, ignore it. This would often save having four sets
> of SATB lyrics differing only in each ones placement of extenders.

+1
Better yet, auto-extenders.

> 2) Given one set of lyrics and two or more voices of notes to attach
> them to, left-align the lyric and don't ignore the extender (as in (1)
> above) whenever any of the notes for that lyric has a melisma, and
> extend the extender to the last melisma moment in any of the voices.
> 
> Currently I do (2) with NullVoice, but it's quite tedious manually
> subdividing notes and adding ties to get the necessary effect.

+1

As I’ve said about a dozen times on this list, there are at least two dozen 
lyric-related issues which, if fixed, would represent a quantum leap in 
Lilypond’s output (and a huge reduction in my manual tweaking effort/time).

Unfortunately, it still appears nobody is available to tackle (interested in 
tackling?) them.

Cheers,
Kieren.
________________________________

Kieren MacMillan, composer
‣ website: www.kierenmacmillan.info
‣ email: address@hidden