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Node:Automatic syllable durations, Next:More stanzas, Previous:Printing lyrics, Up:Lyrics

Automatic syllable durations

If you have lyrics that are set to a melody, you can copy the rhythm of that melody into the lyrics using \addlyrics. The syntax for this is

  \addlyrics musicexpr1 musicexpr2

Both musicexpr1 and musicexpr2 are interpreted, but every music event ("every syllable") in musicexpr2 is interpreted only when there are events in musicexpr1.

If the property automaticMelismata is set in the context of musicexpr1, no lyrics will be put on slurred or tied notes.

\addlyrics
\transpose c'' {
  \property Voice.automaticMelismata = ##t
  c8 () cis d8. e16 f2
}
\context Lyrics \lyrics {
 do4 re mi fa }

If you want the lyric lines to be above the melody staff, or in some other, more complex configuration, then build that configuration first using simultaneous music, and use \addlyrics after that.

\notes <
  \context Lyrics = LA { s1 }
  \context Staff = SA { s1 }
  \addlyrics
        \context Staff = SA \relative c' { c4 e g g }
        \context Lyrics  = LA \lyrics { geen ge -- don -- der } >

For \addlyrics you should use a single rhythm melody, and single rhythm lyrics (a constant duration is the obvious choice). If you do not, you can get undesired effects when using multiple stanzas:

\addlyrics
\transpose c'' {
  c8 () cis d8. e16 f2
}
\context Lyrics \lyrics
< { do4 re fa sol }
  { do8 re fa sol } >

It is valid (but probably not very useful) to use notes instead of lyrics for musicexpr2.

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Copyright (c) 1997--2001 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen.

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