\version "2.18.2"

%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=888
%% see also http://www.lilypond.org/doc/v2.18/Documentation/notation/techniques-specific-to-lyrics

%LSR by Wolf Alight
%=>http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2010-02/msg00444.html
%=>http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2013-05/msg00800.html

%LSR modified by Alexander Kobel
%=>http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.gnu.lilypond.general/89675

%% Note: Only characters of the string used to define space-set
%% are recognized by 'center-on-word'
#(define space-set
  (list->char-set 
    (string->list "—.?-;,:“”‘’–— */()[]{}|<>!`~&…")))

#(define (width grob text)
  (let* ((X-extent 
           (ly:stencil-extent (grob-interpret-markup grob text) X)))
   (if (interval-empty? X-extent)
       0 
       (cdr X-extent))))

#(define (center-on-word grob)
  (let* ((text (ly:grob-property-data grob 'text))
         (syllable (markup->string text))
         (word-position
           (if (string-skip syllable space-set)
               (string-skip syllable space-set)
               0))
         (word-end
           (if (string-skip-right syllable space-set)
               (+ (string-skip-right syllable space-set) 1)
               (string-length syllable)))
         (preword (substring syllable 0 word-position))
         (word (substring syllable word-position word-end))
         (preword-width (width grob preword))
         (word-width (width grob (if (string-null? syllable) text word)))
         (note-column (ly:grob-parent grob X))
         (note-column-extent (ly:grob-extent note-column note-column X))
         (note-column-width (interval-length note-column-extent)))
         
  (- 
    (*
      (/ (- note-column-width word-width) 2)  
      (1+ (ly:grob-property-data grob 'self-alignment-X)))
    preword-width)))

%% For general use this take this layout-setting
%% In the example below the override is applied to selected Lyrics only
%%
%\layout {
%  \context {
%    \Lyrics
%    \override LyricText #'X-offset = #center-on-word
%  }
%}

melody = \relative c' { 
  c4 
  d e f | 
  c d 
  e( f) 
  g1 \bar"|." 
}

lyr = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "1. "
  Do, ““Re, Mi, Fa, Do, Re, 
  %\once \set Score.lyricMelismaAlignment = #4.5
  "...mimifa,"
  \markup \bold Sol—
}

lyrA = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "2. "
  “Do Re, Mi, Fa, Do, Re, 
  mimifa... 
  Sol!”
}

lyrControl = \lyricmode{ 
  \set stanza = "Control: "
  \revert LyricText.X-offset
  Do Re Mi Fa Do Re mimifa Sol
}

\score {
  \new Staff <<
    \new Voice = "voice" \melody
    \new Lyrics = "testI" 
      \with { \override LyricText.X-offset = #center-on-word }
      \lyricsto "voice" \lyr
    \new Lyrics = "testII" 
      \with { \override LyricText.X-offset = #center-on-word }
      \lyricsto "voice" \lyrA
    %% The control-voice omits the override
    \new Lyrics = "control" 
      \lyricsto "voice" \lyrControl
  >>
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      lyricMelismaAlignment = #-0.6
    }
  }
}