On Jun 6, 2007, at 7:36 PM, Mark D Lew wrote:
<< One verse starts a system with the lyric "through". This word is
centred under the note it is associated with. No problem.
Another verse, same note, has the word "go". This word is LEFT-
ALIGNED with "through" above it, so that it is way too far to the
left. This happens every new system, though it looks worse with
"through" and "go" than it does with "his" and "we".
Is it normal to want all first lyrics in new systems to left-align? >>
Yes, this is fairly normal. It is not universal, however. There are
different opinions on this. You'll have to decide which style you
like.
It has been my observation that those who prefer left-aligning
syllables that start a melisma also like to left-align the first
syllable of a verse. Personally, I lean strongly toward centering
(due in part to my background in opera and thus familiarity with
100-year-old scores).
Yes, checking some scores, I see that. But this is EVERY system, not
just beginning verses. Plus, the exaggeration brought on by the
difference between "through" and "go" just looks wrong.
My preferred style is to center the first syllable of a verse, but
if there are more than a couple of verses I will add "1.", "2."
"3." etc to the beginning of the verses. These numerals are
themselves aligned (and thus different distances from their first
syllable), which restores the sense of left-justification to the
verses as a whole. I typically enter the numerals as a text block,
because that's how I did it once upon a time and I've got one set
up to align perfectly, but you'll probably have an easier time
doing them as lyrics, coded as separate syllables. You can attach
them to a rest if you have one, or else attach them to the first
note and drag the whole stack left. (To keep them from getting
mixed up with the real syllables, put them in separate verse boxes
or maybe on another layer.)
Yes, vertically aligning verse numbers is perfectly right, to my mind
as well. I can attach them as lyrics to the first syllable by
entering a hard space (Mac opt-spacebar) between the number and the
first lyric. Or if I REALLY need to move them around, text expressions.
<< It is only at the first lyric of each system that this happens;
other
places are centred (or shifted right in the case of melismas, as they
should be.) This looks bad to me. Is there a way to change them
without dragging each syllable manually (six verses, twelve or so
systems... oy!) >>
Should be easy to fix. I'm at work right now, so I can't try it
out, but somewhere in the lyric menu there's a code for
justification or alignment. One does the syllables relative to each
other, and one does the whole stack relative to the note, but I
forget which is which. Pick the right one and set it to center then
you should be good.
Got it! Document Options>Lyrics, it's right there, along with a whole
host of useful options. I can get to it through the Lyric Menu as
well, under Lyric Options. All is hunky dory now. I changed
"syllables at start of system" justification to "centre" and
everything looks right now.
P.S. I know this isn't what you're asking, but keep in mind: If
you've got more than three verses stacked it starts getting hard
for singers to read. I understand there are often other
considerations, like page/space constrictions, but if it's feasible
you should consider repeating the music on another page so as to
have no more than three verses stacked.
Yes, I completely agree under most circumstances. This, however, is a
mounted plaque that is being presented to a departing music director,
and so has to be restricted to one page, and isn't likely to have to
be sight-read by a choir. I can't just put the extra verses at the
end as a text block, either, because the scan doesn't match exactly,
so everything HAS to be laid in against the music. The pomp of the
circumstance is also why I am being more picky than I usually am for
the average quickie choir arrangement (though I STILL normally try to
make everything legible and nice, as much as I can under the usual
time restraints!)
Thanks for all the info, and the comments, Mark. I knew you'd come
through for me!
Christopher
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