David Feuer <david.feuer <at> gmail.com> writes:
> > \override DynamicText #'X-offset = #-2
>
> Ooh! Neat! For some reason, this only seems to work for some of the
> dynamics. They all move to the left, but only some of them move down.
Yes; it all depends on whether LilyPond thinks they'll fit.
> Is there a way to tell LilyPond to force them down, even if it thinks
> they'll collide?
You may want to specify other X-offsets \once in a while, to fit the dynamics
into natural spaces. Also note that LilyPond will try to line up all dynamics
and crescendi/decrescendi. (Is there a way to turn this off?)
If all else fails, search the manuals for #'extra-offset, but use it sparingly.
> Also, do you happen to know how to bring dynamic
> marks a bit closer to the staff by default?
I'm not quite sure, but read the fine manual; it's probably in there.
> Finally, are there any
> other overrides you suggest for vocal pieces?
Oh, lots.
If you have two voices on one staff, you want something like this:
#(set-accidental-style 'modern-voice)
You'll use ChoirStaff, so to read measure numbers try this:
\override Score.BarNumber #'padding = #3
Unless you prefer the modern style, you'll say this:
\set Score.autoBeaming = ##f
If you have "on-and-off" lyrics, you may want this:
\override Score.VerticalAxisGroup #'remove-first = ##t
This of course depends on proper use of this:
\context { \RemoveEmptyStaffContext }
Here's a few more tricks:
\new Staff = "tenors" \with {
\override VerticalAxisGroup #'keep-fixed-while-stretching = ##t
} <<
\clef "treble_8"
\set Staff.instrumentName = \markup{
vcenter "Tenor "
\column {
\hcenter "I"
\hcenter "II"}}
You'll want #'keep-fixed-while-stretching to be ##t on any staff that has lyrics
attached above it, and #'keep-fixed-while-stretching = ##f on lyrics that are
above a staff, not below another. Lyrics example:
\new Lyrics \with {
alignAboveContext=tenors
\override VerticalAxisGroup #'keep-fixed-while-stretching = ##f
} \lyricsto tenori \tiWords
Also, vocal voices tend to do things, ehm, differently, so I have these instead
of \oneVoice, \voiceOne and \voiceTwo:
songVoice = {
\dynamicUp
\phrasingSlurUp
\slurUp
\override TextScript #'direction = #1
}
songVoiceOne = {
\songVoice
\override RepeatTie #'direction = #1
\voiceOne
}
songVoiceTwo = {
\dynamicDown
\phrasingSlurDown
\override TextScript #'direction = #-1
\override RepeatTie #'direction = #-1
\voiceTwo
}
That's it for tricks currently in use, I think. This is with 2.11.20, by the
way; earlier versions may need other tricks...