Re: [Denemo-devel] Lyrics Manual

[Richard Shann]

On Fri, 2017-02-10 at 15:33 +0000, Joe Wilkinson wrote:
> Assuming that the code just submitted (or something like it) is OK,
> the manual could read as below.
> 
> This leaves those who prefer Mice to keyboards with instructions as to
> how to use the menus simply (enough I hope)

I pasted your contribution into the Denemo manual and edited away ...
the result is now in git. I would appreciate corrections as, for one
reason or another I had to edit quite extensively to avoid abrupt
changes in style, overly narrow cultural references etc.
The documentation for lyrics is in two parts, a description of the
Lyrics Menu, and a description of the lyrics pane (see index).

One thing that could be improved is the screenshot illustrating Lyrics
verses - this is the only example I had to hand, but it would be better
to have something that illustrated various bits of syntax perhaps.
Nothing too intimidating, however!

Richard


> Joe
> 
> 
> Lyrics Documentation RShann/ASchneider ed JKWilkinson
> 
> Introduction
> 
> To add lyrics to a staff move the cursor onto the staff and choose
> Lyrics >> Add Lyric Verse. This normally turns on the Lyrics View and
> creates a Lyrics pane below the music.
> 
> Each verse has a separate tab, with the current verse for the current
> staff being visible at any one time. Verses cannot be re-ordered at
> present – but you can cut and paste between verses if verses must be
> inserted later.
> 
> Lyrics are attached to a Staff/Voice. This means that 
> 
>       * you will see the lyrics for the current staff disappear from
>         the Display Window when you switch staffs, which can be
>         disconcerting, but saves space in the display
>         
>       * lyrics are deleted if the staff is deleted, of course.
>         
> The Lyric pane shows only a few lines initially, but you can drag it
> upwards if you need to see more. Lyrics are entered as a syllables
> separated by spaces or new lines (which have no other meaning but
> allow you to preseve the lines of a stanza). 
> 
> You can switch to the lyrics pane with the mouse or using Ctrl-l,
> Ctrl-l, and you can switch back from editing the lyrics to editing the
> music with the Ctrl-l (or Esc or Tab keys). You can change verses with
> Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn keys, change staffs with Ctrl-up/down, and save with
> Ctrl-s.
> 
> Editing text
> 
> Lyrics in Denemo are handled as blocks of text that can be freely
> edited in text editor panels that appear as the tabs of a notebook.
> The syllables are not attached to the notes, so you can edit the notes
> freely without affecting the lyrics. While simply typing or
> copy&pasting the text in will be enough for simple pieces, special
> syntax is available for more complex tasks (see below)
> 
> Visibility
> 
> Note that the lyrics for a staff are only shown when the cursor is in
> the staff concerned - this saves space in the display, but can be
> disconcerting when they vanish from the display as you move to another
> staff! It is also possible to toggle the Lyrics panes on and off if
> needed, using View Lyrics.
> 
> Aligning Notes and Lyrics
> 
> Denemo uses Lilypond Typesetter syntax which may be typed direct if
> known; some complex expressions can be input using Lyrics Menu items.
> Each word or syllable separated by spaces is treated as a single item,
> and is put under one or group of notes.
> 
> Grouping several words under one note:
> 
>       * Easiest – enclose the words in double quotes, e.g. .“word1
>         word2 word3”
>         
>         Lyrics>>Lyrics Tie will join words in the Lyric Pane with
>         single underscore or tilde 
>         (typeset as <space> and ˬ respectively). You can type the _
>         and ~ yourself!
>         
> 
> Dividing a word into syllables is best done using
> <space><hyphen><hyphen><space>
> 
>       * Lyrics>> DivideSyllables will put a spaced double hyphen,
>         typeset as a hyphen halfway between the syllables each aligned
>         below adjacent notes. 
>         N.B. The obvious alternative, just using a space, may make for
>         ambiguities,
>         e.g. “on ion” or “on - ion”, “Put in”, or “Put – in”. 
>         
> 
> Extending a syllable over several notes (Melisma) e.g in the Gloria of
> carol “Ding, dong, Merrily on high” over grouped notes is best done
> using 
> 
>       * a slur over the music notes if appropriate, 
>         (for afficionados only!. Manually barring
>         quavers/eighth-notes, with automatic barring turned off – this
>         is good practice for choral music anyway – has the same
>         effect)
>         
>         Then 
>         
>               * Lyrics>> Melismata>> During Word, with Slur creates
>                 typescript hyphen(s) showing continuation to the end
>                 of the slur
>                 
>               * Lyrics>> Melismata>> Word End , with Slur creates a
>                 typescript Underscore to the end of the slur. 
>                 
>       * if notes are not slurred, e.g. Staccato Minims/HalfNotes use:
>         
>               * Lyrics>> Melismata>> During Word, no Slur spreads the
>                 syllable over two notes inserting hyphen(s) showing
>                 continuation 
>                 
>               * Lyrics>> Melismata>> Word End , no Slur spreads the
>                 syllable over two notes inserting Underscore joining
>                 them
>                 
>       * Lyrics>> Melismata>> ExtendMelisma, will add add a spaced
>         Underscore into the Lyric pane, extending the Melisma by one
>         note or group of notes.
>         
> 
> Notes Without Words, i.e. gaps in the text, may be produced
> 
>       * with a spaced symbol (if one is required) or by a spaced
>         undescore or “” or “ “ for each wordless note.
>         
> 
> Other Lyrics Menu items
> 
> The full possible syntax is given in the LilyPond documentation, but
> Denemo provides you with menu items for inserting the most useful
> extras such as stanza numbers, font selection and skips.
> 
> Insert Highlighted Lyric puts the necessary syntax 
> 
> e.g. {\bold \italic very} 
> 
> around a word to embolden and/or italicise it (here the word “
> very”). 
> 
> Insert Stanza Number puts your choice of number at the cursor,
> highlighted if necessary. Normally the cursor should be at the
> stanza/verse start!
> 
> Syllable Alignment allows the text to be aligned with its start or end
> below the note (rather than the default Centre). This may be useful
> for chanted text.
> 
> Skip Syllables in Selection is useful if you have a musical
> introduction or interlude in a song. It is probably a preferable
> alternative to a series of pairs of double-quotes, one for each
> skipped note. Once the text is in the verse, it may be easily edited,
> if you have miscounted.
> 
> Insert Mirrored Verse permits a mirrored copy of a verse from another
> stave to be included, for example when the words for two parts are the
> same but on separate staffs. Then if the words need editing, just the
> first copy needs to be changed.
> 
> Typeset Verses at End allows multiple verse tunes to be laid out with
> just some under the music. You are given a choice as to at which verse
> to start.
> 
> Once you have carried out the process the words are copied to the Page
> End text. They also appear in the normal place. On repeating the
> command you get a choice of replacing the previously copied text or
> adding to it. Assuming you have finished editing the verses theLyric
> panes containing them may be safely deleted. 
> 
> You can also edit the Page End text from this button; For example:
> Denemo is a bit generous with vertical spacing – you may like to
> reduce it.
> 
> Dynamic allows you to put ff, f, p, or pp directly in the music (as a
> performance hint)
> 
> Change Font allows you to change the font used for a particular (part
> of a?) verse from the default to any that are avaiable. You do need to
> know the name of the font you wish to use. If you want all your verses
> in the same font it may be preferable to change Preferences.
> 
> Larger/Smaller Font Size allows you to highlight verses or parts of
> them with larger/smaller text.
> 
> Typeset On/Off should allow the music to be typeset with or without
> the text, when required. 
>