Re: Lyrics and centering

[Eduardo Vieira]

Kieren wrote: 
> As for the "automatic placement" issue, I have to say that I do a 
> fair bit of manual tweaking of my lyrics, in order to "make it fit" 
> or "make it look good" -- as you indicated, I think Lilypond does a 
> pretty amazing job, considering how complex (and, often, subjective) 
> the process is. 
> 
> Shortcuts I use regularly include: 
> 
>     lyrLQ = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.25 } 
>     lyrLH = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.5 } 
>     lyrLM = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-0.75 } 
>     lyrL = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #-1 } 
>     lyrRQ = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.25 } 
>     lyrRH = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.5 } 
>     lyrRM = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #0.75 } 
>     lyrR = { \once \override LyricText #'self-alignment-X = #1 } 
> 
> where "Q" means "quarter of the way to L/R alignment", "H" means 
> "half...", and "M" means "most". I use these to shift syllables at 
> the beginnings or ends of measures, or (especially) to float long 
> syllables under the rest(s) preceding or following the note, in order 
> to even out the note spacing. 
> 
> I've already mentioned the other tweak I regularly use, i.e., 
> 
>     lyrMX = \once \override LyricText #'X-offset = #-0.5 
> 
> which I use to "soften" the left-alignment of melismas. 
> 
> Anyone else have Lyric adjustment tips? 
> 
Hi! I think this is a good practice. And as it was mentioned in this thread 
there aren't strict rules for aligning syllables. 
I, personally, like that style that the first syllabe after the stanza 
number is left alligned as well as the first syllable beginning a new 
system, too. How could one ever program that preference with Scheme? 
Yes, I also like to use a negative X-offset too. 
I have some songbooks that follow an interesting practice that's even 
harder: The first syllable of a new verse is left aligned and the last 
syllable right-aligned to the note. The last syllable of a system is also 
right aligned, and the first syllable of the next system is left-aligned. To 
follow this fashion I`d have to run the file more than one time, inevitably, 
to detect which syllable should be left or right alligned :( 

Regards, 

Eduardo 

P.S. I think Lilypond, by default follows a good style.