Re: Repeat w whith different lyrics

[David F.]

Helge,

This is covered in Lilypond’s documentation:

https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/notation/techniques-specific-to-lyrics#lyrics-and-repeats
I've updated your example to use the technique described in the docs.  Hope 
this helps!

David

%%%%%
\version "2.25.33"
\language "deutsch"


soprano = \relative c' {
  \key g \major  \partial 4  \autoBeamOff
  d4
  \repeat volta 2 {
      g a h h | a4.( g8) fis4 d | e8[ fis] g4 4 fis
  }
  \alternative {
    { g2 r4 d  }
    { g2 r4 h8[ c] }
  }
  d4. e8 d4 c | h2 4 a | h c d c8[ h]
}

verseOnePartOne = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "1."
  Nun
}

verseOnePartTwo = \lyricmode {
  will der Lenz uns grü -- ßen, von Mit -- tag weht es lau. Aus
}

verseOnePartThree = \lyricmode {
  al -- len Ek -- ken spri -- ßen die Blu -- men rot und
  \tag #'whenFolded { \repeat unfold 2 { \skip 1 }}
  blau.
}

verseTwoPartOne = \lyricmode {
  \set stanza = "2."
  Wald -- 
}

verseTwoPartTwo = \lyricmode {
  vög -- lein Lie -- der sin -- gen, wie ihr sie nur be -- gehrt. Drum
}

verseTwoPartThree = \lyricmode {
  auf, zum fro -- hen Sprin -- gen, die Reis is Gol -- des
  \tag #'whenFolded { \repeat unfold 2 { \skip 1 }}
  wert.
}

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" {
      \verseOnePartOne
      \set stanza = \markup { \lower #0.5 \left-brace #30 }
      \verseOnePartTwo
    }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" { \skip 1 \verseOnePartThree }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" {
      \verseTwoPartOne
      \set stanza = \markup { \lower #0.5 \left-brace #30 }
      \verseTwoPartTwo
    }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" { \skip 1 \verseTwoPartThree }
  >>
}

%% Score with repeats unfolded

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \unfoldRepeats \soprano }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" {
      \verseOnePartOne
      \verseOnePartTwo
      \removeWithTag #'whenFolded \verseOnePartThree
    }
    \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" {
      \verseTwoPartOne
      \verseTwoPartTwo
      \removeWithTag #'whenFolded \verseTwoPartThree
    }
  >>
}


> On Feb 27, 2026, at 3:45 AM, Helge Kruse <helge.kr...@gmx.net> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I am new to choir music and find some new challenges, at least for me. I have 
> a volta repeat where the melody is repeated, but with different lyrics. What 
> is the best way to tell Lilypond to use more syllables for the repeat?
> 
> The text in the repeat should be:
> 
> 1. Nun  |: will der  Lenz uns grüß  - en, von Mit - tag weht es (¹ lau. Aus ) 
> :|
>            al - len  Ek - ken sprie - ßen die Blu - men rot und
> 
> 2. Wald |: vög - lein Lie - der sin - gen, wie ihr sie nur be - (¹ gehrt. 
> Drum ) :|
>            auf,  zum  fro - hen ...
> 
> I hope, this example is minimal as possible, but sufficient to reproduce:
> 
> \version "2.25.33"
> \language "deutsch"
> 
> 
> soprano = \relative c' {
>   \key g \major  \partial 4  \autoBeamOff
>   d4
>   \repeat volta 2 {
>       g a h h | a4.( g8) fis4 d | e8[ fis] g4 4 fis
>   }
>   \alternative {
>     { g2 r4 d  }
>     { g2 r4 h8[ c] }
>   }
>   d4. e8 d4 c | h2 4 a | h c d c8[ h]
> }
> 
> verseOne = \lyricmode {
>   \set stanza = "1."
>   Nun will der Lenz uns grü -- ßen, von Mit -- tag weht es lau. Aus
>   al -- len Ek -- ken spri -- ßen die Blu -- men rot und
>   blau.
> }
> 
> verseTwo = \lyricmode {
>   \set stanza = "2."
>   Wald -- vög -- lein Lie -- der sin -- gen, wie ihr sie nur be -- gehrt. Drum
>   auf, zum fro -- hen Sprin -- gen, die Reis is Gol -- des
>   wert.
> }
> 
> \score {
>   <<
>     \new Staff \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano }
>     \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" \verseOne
>     \new Lyrics\lyricsto "soprano" \verseTwo
>   >>
> }
> 
> Best Regards
> Helge
> 
>