Polyphonic Rest Positions and partial \longa

[Trent J]

Hello,

I've just started using Lilypond after switching from Sibelius. Lilypond 
seems a lot quicker and the set out especially with lyrics is a lot better 
and easier to correct.
At the moment I have two questions...
When using spacer notes e.g.

<< { s4 f g g } // { r4 g g g } >>

the rest is always printed above it's usual position. It would be 
understandable if there was a note that the rest was trying to avoid but 
there isn't anything but a spacer note. How do I get the rest to be it's 
original position. I know I can use b4\rest (this is acceptable but very 
time consuming in polyphonic music) but the this doesn't work if there is a 
multi-bar rest eg.

\time 3/1
<< { s1*0^\markup { \italic "Alla breve"  } s\breve } \\ { R\breve. } >>

the whole bar rest prints down and if I switch the argument

<< { R\breve. } \\ { s1*0^\markup { \italic "Alla breve"  } s\breve } >>
the whole bar rest prints above it's regular position...

so how do I get the whole bar rest to print in the regular position....

My second question...

Monteverdi usually ends his pieces with a longa note...

if I add the following regardless of time signature... I always get an extra 
bar printed at the end of the piece.

\partial \longa*1 e\longa

i've even tried...
\partial 1*4 e\longa

this still overruns and starts a new bar....

Any help is appreciated...

Thanks again...

Trent

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