@unnumberedsubsubsec Aligning lyrics to a melody
@cindex lyrics, aligning to a melody
+@cindex @code{associatedVoice}
@funindex \lyricmode
@funindex \addlyrics
@funindex \lyricsto
@itemize
@item
-They can be aligned automatically, with the durations of the
-syllables being taken from an associated melody or other voice
-of music, using @code{\addlyrics} or @code{\lyricsto}. See
-@ref{Automatic syllable durations}.
+Lyrics can be aligned automatically, with the durations of the
+syllables being taken from another voice of music or (in special
+circumstances) an associated melody, using @code{\addlyrics},
+@code{\lyricsto}, or by setting the @code{associatedVoice} property.
+For more details, see @ref{Automatic syllable durations}.
-@item
-They can be aligned independently of the duration of any notes
-if the durations of the syllables are specified explicitly,
-and entered with @code{\lyricmode}. See
-@ref{Manual syllable durations}.
+@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
+<<
+ \new Staff <<
+ \time 2/4
+ \new Voice = "one" \relative c'' {
+ \voiceOne
+ c4 b8. a16 g4. r8 a4 ( b ) c2
+ }
+ \new Voice = "two" \relative c' {
+ \voiceTwo
+ s2 s4. f8 e4 d c2
+ }
+ >>
-@end itemize
+% takes durations and alignment from notes in "one"
+ \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
+ Life is __ _ love, live __ life.
+ }
-The following example compares different ways to align lyrics.
+% takes durations and alignment from notes in "one" initially
+% then switches to "two"
+ \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
+ No more let
+ \set associatedVoice = "two" % must be set one syllable early
+ sins and sor -- rows grow.
+ }
+>>
+@end lilypond
+
+The first stanza shows the normal way of entering lyrics.
+
+The second stanza shows how the voice from which the lyric
+durations are taken can be changed. This is useful if the words to
+different stanzas fit the notes in different ways and all the
+durations are available in Voice contexts. For more details, see
+@ref{Stanzas}.
+
+@item
+Lyrics can be aligned independently of the duration of any notes
+if the durations of the syllables are specified explicitly,
+and entered with @code{\lyricmode}.
@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
<<
\new Voice = "one" \relative c'' {
- \autoBeamOff
\time 2/4
c4 b8. a16 g4. f8 e4 d c2
}
Joy to the earth!
}
-% explicit durations; left-aligned by default
+% explicit durations, set to a different rhythm
\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
- Joy4 to8. the16 world!4. the8 Lord4 is come.2
- }
-
-% takes durations and alignment from notes in "one"
- \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
- No more let sins and sor -- rows grow.
+ Life4 is love,2. live4 life.2
}
>>
@end lilypond
The first stanza is not aligned with the notes because the durations
were not specified, and the default value of 2 is used for each
-word. This can be useful for dialogue over music; for more, see
+word.
+
+The second stanza shows how the words can be aligned quite
+independently from the notes. This is useful if the words to
+different stanzas fit the notes in different ways and the required
+durations are not available in a music context. For more details
+see @ref{Manual syllable durations}. This technical is also useful
+when setting dialogue over music; for examples showing this, see
@ref{Dialogue over music}.
-The second stanza with explicitly specified durations is
-aligned to the notes because the durations are the same as the
-corresponding notes. The words are left-aligned to the notes by
-default. Useful if the words to different stanzas fit the notes in
-different ways.
+When entered in this way the words are left-aligned to the notes
+by default, but may be center-aligned to the notes of a melody by
+specifying an associated voice, if one exists. For details, see
+@ref{Manual syllable durations}.
-The third stanza shows the normal way of entering lyrics.
+@end itemize
@seealso
Learning Manual:
@cindex syllable durations, automatic
@cindex lyrics and melodies
+@cindex associatedVoice
+@funindex \addlyrics
+@funindex \lyricsto
+
+Lyrics can be automatically aligned to the notes of a melody in
+three ways:
+
+@itemize
+
+@item
+by specifying the named Voice context containing the melody with
+@code{\lyricsto},
+
+@item
+by introducing the lyrics with @code{\addlyrics} and placing them
+immediately after the Voice context containing the melody,
+
+@item
+by setting the @code{associatedVoice} property, the alignment of
+the lyrics may be switched to a different named Voice context at
+any musical moment.
+
+@end itemize
-Lyrics are aligned and typeset with the help of skips, hyphens and
-extender lines.
+In all three methods hyphens can be drawn between the syllables of
+a word and extender lines can be drawn beyond the end of a word. For
+details, see @ref{Extenders and hyphens}.
The @code{Voice} context containing the melody to which the lyrics
are being aligned must not have @qq{died}, or the lyrics after that
voice has nothing to do. For methods of keeping contexts alive, see
@ref{Keeping contexts alive}.
-The lyrics can be aligned under a given melody
-automatically. This is achieved by combining the
-melody and the lyrics with the @code{\lyricsto} expression
+@subheading Using @code{\lyricsto}
-@example
-\new Lyrics \lyricsto @var{name} @{ @dots{} @}
-@end example
+@cindex \lyricsto
+@funindex \lyricsto
+
+Lyrics can be aligned under a melody automatically by specifying
+the named Voice context containing the melody with
+@code{\lyricsto}:
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
+<<
+ \new Voice = "melody" {
+ a4 a a a
+ }
+ \new Lyrics \lyricsto "melody" {
+ These are the words
+ }
+>>
+@end lilypond
@noindent
-This aligns the lyrics to the
-notes of the @code{Voice} context called @var{name}, which must
-already exist. Therefore normally the @code{Voice} is specified first, and
-then the lyrics are specified with @code{\lyricsto}. The command
-@code{\lyricsto} switches to @code{\lyricmode} mode automatically, so the
-@code{\lyricmode} keyword may be omitted.
+This aligns the lyrics to the notes of the named @code{Voice}
+context, which must already exist. Therefore normally the
+@code{Voice} context is specified first, followed by the
+@code{Lyrics} context. The lyrics themselves follow the
+@code{\lyricsto} command. The @code{\lyricsto} command
+invokes lyric mode automatically, so the @code{\lyricmode} keyword
+may be omitted. By default, the lyrics are placed underneath the
+notes. For other placements, see @ref{Placement of lyrics}.
+@subheading Using @code{\addlyrics}
@cindex \addlyrics
+@funindex \addlyrics
-The @code{\addlyrics} command is actually just a convenient shortcut
-that can sometimes be used instead of having to set up the lyrics
+The @code{\addlyrics} command is just a convenient shortcut that
+can sometimes be used instead of having to set up the lyrics
through a more complicated LilyPond structure.
@example
is the same as
@example
-\new Voice = "blah" @{ music @}
+\new Voice = "blah" @{ MUSIC @}
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "blah" @{ LYRICS @}
@end example
Here is an example,
-@lilypond[ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,quote]
-\time 3/4
-\relative c' { c2 e4 g2. }
-\addlyrics { play the game }
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote]
+{
+ \time 3/4
+ \relative c' { c2 e4 g2. }
+ \addlyrics { play the game }
+}
@end lilypond
More stanzas can be added by adding more
@code{\addlyrics} sections:
+
@lilypond[ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,quote]
\time 3/4
\relative c' { c2 e4 g2. }
\addlyrics { joue le jeu }
@end lilypond
-The command @code{\addlyrics} cannot handle polyphony settings.
-For these cases one should use @code{\lyricsto} and
-@code{\lyricmode}, for details see @ref{Entering lyrics}.
+The command @code{\addlyrics} cannot handle polyphonic settings.
+For these cases one should use @code{\lyricsto}.
-@node Manual syllable durations
-@unnumberedsubsubsec Manual syllable durations
-
-Lyrics can also be entered without @code{\addlyrics} or
-@code{\lyricsto}. In this case, syllables are entered like
-notes -- but with pitches replaced by text -- and the duration
-of each syllable must be entered explicitly. For example:
-
-@example
-play2 the4 game2.
-sink2 or4 swim2.
-@end example
+@subheading Using associatedVoice
-The alignment to a melody can be specified with the
-@code{associatedVoice} property,
+The melody to which the lyrics are being aligned can be changed by
+setting the @code{associatedVoice} property,
@example
\set associatedVoice = #"lala"
@noindent
-@c TODO setting associated voice does more than format extender
-@c lines. Document it properly. Does it have anything to do
-@c with manual durations in lyrics?
+The value of the property (here: @code{"lala"}) should be the name
+of a @code{Voice} context. For technical reasons, the @code{\set}
+command must be placed one syllable before the one to which the
+change in voice is to apply.
+
+Here is an example demonstrating its use:
+
+@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
+<<
+ \new Staff <<
+ \time 2/4
+ \new Voice = "one" \relative c'' {
+ \voiceOne
+ c4 b8. a16 g4. r8 a4 ( b ) c2
+ }
+ \new Voice = "two" \relative c' {
+ \voiceTwo
+ s2 s4. f8 e8 d4. c2
+ }
+ >>
+% takes durations and alignment from notes in "one" initially
+% then switches to "two"
+ \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
+ No more let
+ \set associatedVoice = "two" % must be set one syllable early
+ sins and sor -- rows grow.
+ }
+>>
+@end lilypond
+
+@seealso
+Notation Reference:
+@ref{Extenders and hyphens}.
+
+@node Manual syllable durations
+@unnumberedsubsubsec Manual syllable durations
+
+In some complex vocal music, it may be desirable to place lyrics
+completely independently of notes. In this case do not use
+@code{\lyricsto} or @code{\addlyrics} and do not set
+@code{associatedVoice}. Syllables are entered like notes --
+but with pitches replaced by text -- and the duration of each
+syllable is entered explicitly after the syllable.
-The value of the property (here: @code{"lala"}) should be the name of
-a @code{Voice} context. Without this setting, extender lines
-will not be formatted properly.
+By default, syllables will be left-aligned to the corresponding
+musical moment. Hyphenated lines may be drawn between syllables
+as usual, but extender lines cannot be drawn when there is no
+associated voice.
-Here is an example demonstrating manual lyric durations,
+Here are two examples:
@lilypond[relative=1,verbatim,quote]
<<
\new Voice = "melody" {
\time 3/4
- c2 e4 g2.
+ c2 e4 g2 f
}
\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
- \set associatedVoice = #"melody"
- play2 the4 game2.
+ play1 the4 game4
}
>>
@end lilypond
-In some complex vocal music, it may be desirable to place lyrics
-completely independently of notes. In this case do not use
-@code{\lyricsto} or @code{\addlyrics} and do not set
-@code{associatedVoice}:
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
<<
>>
@end lilypond
+This technique is useful when writing dialogue over music, see
+@ref{Dialogue over music}.
+
+To center-align syllables on the notes at the corresponding musical
+moments, set @code{associatedVoice} to the name of the Voice context
+containing those notes. When @code{associatedVoice} is set, both
+double hyphens and double underscores can be used to draw
+hyphenated lines and extenders under melismata correctly.
+
+@lilypond[relative=1,verbatim,quote]
+<<
+ \new Voice = "melody" {
+ \time 3/4
+ c2 e4 g f g
+ }
+ \new Lyrics \lyricmode {
+ \set associatedVoice = #"melody"
+ play2 the4 game2. __
+ }
+>>
+@end lilypond
+
@c TODO see also feature request 707 - show how to do this with manual durations
@seealso
Notation Reference:
+@ref{Dialogue over music},
@ref{Keeping contexts alive}.
Internals Reference:
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