Adjusting Lyrics to "center them"

[Michael Dykes]

I am working with Orthodox liturgical music. Below is a one of the 
pieces I am working with. In this and all of my current pieces, I would 
like the lyrics to fall somewhat closer to the median between the staves 
if at all possible. Thanks.

-Michael Dykes



\version "2.16.0"
\include "english.ly"
\include "gregorian.ly"

\layout {
  \context{
    \Score \override SpacingSpanner #'packed-spacing = ##f
  }
  \context{
    \Lyrics \override LyricHyphen #'minimum-distance = #2.2
    \override LyricSpace #'minimum-distance = #0.8
  }
}


\header {
  title = \markup {
    \override #'(font-name . "URW Chancery L") \fontsize #5.0 \bold
      { "Octoëchos ~ Hymns of the Resurrection" } }
  subtitle = \markup {
    \override #'(font-name . "URW Chancery L") \fontsize #4.5 \bold
      { "Apolytikion (Dismissal Troparion)" } }
  poet = \markup {
    \override #'(font-name . "Arial Black") \fontsize #1.75 \bold
      { "Abbreviated ''Greek'' Chant" } }
  composer =  \markup {
    \override #'(font-name . "Arial Black") \fontsize #1.75 \bold
      { "Tone 2" } }
}

% #(set-global-staff-size 22)
global = {
  \key f \major
  \override Staff.NoteHead #'style = #'altdefault
  \override Staff.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
  %\override Staff.BarLine #'stencil = ##f
  \set Score.defaultBarType = "empty"
  \bar "|."
}
move = { \bar "" \break }

soprano = \relative c'' {
  \global
  % Music follows here.
  g4 a2 a4 a a a a a a bf c2(bf) a2 \divisioMinima
  a4 a a a a a a a a a g2 f1 \divisioMaxima

  g4 a2 a4 a a a bf c2 bf a \divisioMinima
  a4 a a a a g2 g4 g f1 \finalis

  a4 a a a a g a bf2(a4 bf) a2 g4 g f\breve \bar "|."
}

alto = \relative c' {
  \global
  % Music follows here.
  e4 f2 f4 f f f f f f f f1 f2 \divisioMinima
  f4 f f f f f f f f f e2 c1 \divisioMaxima

  e4 f2 f4 f f f f4 f2 f f \divisioMinima
  f4 f f f f e2 e4 e c1 \finalis

  f4 f f f f d f f1 f2 e4 e c\breve \bar "|."
}

tenor = \relative c' {
  \global
  % Music follows here.
  bf4 c2 c4 c c c c c c d ef2(d) c2 \divisioMinima
  c4 c c c c c c c c c bf2 a1 \divisioMaxima

  bf4 c2 c4 c c c d ef2 d c \divisioMinima
  c4 c c c c bf2 bf4 bf a1 \finalis

   \bar "|."
}

bass = \relative c {
  \global
  % Music follows here.
  c4 f2 f4 f f f f f f bf, a2(bf) f' \divisioMinima
  f4 f f f f f f f f f c2 f1 \divisioMaxima

  c4 f2 f4 f f f bf, a2 bf f' \divisioMinima
  f4 f f f f c2 c4 c f1 \finalis

  f4 f f f f g f bf2(f4 bf,) c2 c4 c f\breve \bar "|."
}

verse = \lyricmode {
  % Lyrics follow here.
  When Thou didst de -- scend to death, O Life Im -- mor -- tal,
  Thou didst slay hell with the splen -- dor of Thy God -- head!
  And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead,
  all the Pow -- ers of Heav -- en cried out:
  ''O Giv -- er of Life! Christ our God,__ Glo -- ry to Thee!''
}

\score {
  \new ChoirStaff <<
    \new Staff \with {
      midiInstrument = " string ensemble 1 "
      instrumentName = \markup \center-column { "S" "A"}
    } <<
      \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano }
      \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \alto }
    >>
    \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \verse
    \new Staff \with {
      midiInstrument = " string ensemble 1 "
      instrumentName = \markup \center-column { "T" "B" }
    } <<
      \clef bass
      \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenor }
      \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bass }
    >>
  >>
  \layout { ragged-last=##t
   #(layout-set-staff-size 22)
  }
  \midi {
    \context {
      \Score
      tempoWholesPerMinute = #(ly:make-moment 145 4)
      }
    }
  }