Thank you, David. Your method is working well until I try to add an ictus with the \ictus command.
Per LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.9.4 Typesetting Gregorian chant <https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/notation/typesetting-gregorian-chant#gregorian-articulation-signs>, I believe I need to include gregorian.ly to typeset an ictus. But as soon as I add \include "gregorian.ly" at the beginning of my code, manual syllable durations <https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/notation/common-notation-for-vocal-music#manual-syllable-durations> for the English words stop working: the entirety of the phrase “Hail, Holy Queen,” is printed under the first Latin syllable “Sal,” before “ve” and its corresponding note (e). Screenshot: [image: image.png] Is there a way that I can use the \ictus command with no other changes to the output that your code generated? On Mon, 3 Nov 2025 at 19:19, David Poon <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't know why it doesn't appear to work with the > GregorianTranscriptionStaff, but using durations with lyrics works with a > regular Staff, and I think it still provides the appearance you desire. > More info at > https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.25/Documentation/notation/opera-and-stage-musicals#dialogue-over-music > > \version "2.24.0" > > chant = \relative c' { > \cadenzaOn > \hide Stem > c4 e g a g2 > a4 c b a g a g g2 \bar "," > c4 g a f~f d2 \bar "," > e4 f g e e( d) c2 \bar "||" > } > > verba = \lyricmode { > Sál -- ve, Re -- gí -- na, má -- ter mi -- se -- ri -- cór -- di -- ae: > Ví -- ta, dul -- cé -- do, et spes nó -- stra, sál -- ve. > } > > words = \lyricmode { > \override LyricText.self-alignment-X = #-1 > \override LyricText.font-shape = #'italic > "Hail, holy Queen,"4*6 > "mother of mercy,"4*9 > "our life, our sweetness,"4*7 > "and our hope, hail."4*8 > } > > \score { > \new Staff \with { \remove Time_signature_engraver } << > \new Voice = "melody" \chant > \new Lyrics = "one" \lyricsto melody \verba > \new Lyrics = "two" \words > >> > } > > On Mon, 3 Nov 2025 at 15:14, Gabriel Ellsworth < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear all, >> >> I am trying to engrave some plainchant in Latin with the English >> translation of the words immediately below the Latin lyrics. >> >> For now, I am using text marks for the English translation, but this has >> issues. Screenshot: >> [image: image.png] >> >> As you can see, when the English text takes up more horizontal space than >> does its corresponding Latin phrase, the next English phrase automatically >> gets knocked down to a “line” below it. >> >> In theory, I think, entering the English translation as lyrics (something >> like a “verse two”) would be better. But I’d want a single English lyric >> item to stretch across multiple pitches. For example, "our life, our >> sweetness," [in quotes!] should stretch across six notes: { c4 g a f~f >> d2 }. And I can’t figure out how to make that happen in LilyPond lyrics. >> >> Does anyone have good ideas? >> >> Below is my code. >> >> All the best, >> >> Gabriel >> >> >> \version "2.24.0" >> >> \include "gregorian.ly" >> >> chant = \relative c' { >> \set Score.timing = ##f >> \tweak direction #DOWN \textMark \markup \italic { "Hail, holy Queen," >> } >> c4 e g a g2 >> \tweak direction #DOWN \textMark \markup \italic { "mother of mercy," } >> a4 c b a g a g g2 \divisioMaior >> \tweak direction #DOWN \textMark \markup \italic { "our life, our >> sweetness," } >> c4 g a f~f d2 \divisioMaior >> \tweak direction #DOWN \textMark \markup \italic { "and our hope, >> hail." } >> e4 f g e e( d) c2 \bar "||" >> } >> >> verba = \lyricmode { >> Sál -- ve, Re -- gí -- na, má -- ter mi -- se -- ri -- cór -- di -- ae: >> Ví -- ta, dul -- cé -- do, et spes nó -- stra, sál -- ve. >> } >> >> \score { >> \new GregorianTranscriptionStaff << >> \new GregorianTranscriptionVoice = "melody" \chant >> \new GregorianTranscriptionLyrics = "one" \lyricsto melody \verba >> >> >> } >> >
