\version "2.18.2"

\layout {
  \context {
    \Score
    \override SystemStartBar.collapse-height = #1
  }
  \context {
    \ChoirStaff
    \override SystemStartBracket.collapse-height = #1
  }
}

top = { b4 d' f' a' }
bot = { b4 d' f' a' }
text = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "1." These are the words. }
whytext = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "2." Why are these big? }

\score {
  \new ChoirStaff \with {
    fontSize = #-4 \override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -4)
    instrumentName = \markup { "A" }
  } <<
    \new Staff \with {
      instrumentName = \markup { "B" }
    } <<
      \new Voice { \top }
      \addlyrics { \text }
    >>
    \new Staff <<
      \set Staff.instrumentName = \markup { "C" }
      \new Voice { \bot }
      \addlyrics { \text }
    >>
  >>
}

\score {
  \new ChoirStaff \with {
    fontSize = #-4 \override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -4)
  } <<
    \new Staff <<
      \set Staff.instrumentName = \markup { "D" }
      \new Voice { \top }
      \addlyrics { \text }
    >>
  >>
}

\score {
  \new Staff \with {
    fontSize = #-4 \override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -4)
  } <<
    \set Staff.instrumentName = \markup { "E" }
    \new Voice { \top }
    \addlyrics { \whytext }
  >>
}