Re: LyricText.self-alignment-X doesn't work with custom function

Am So., 16. Aug. 2026 um 22:19 Uhr schrieb Matthew Fong <[email protected]>:
>
> Dear Lilyponders,
>
> Many years ago, Aaron Hall wrote a function that would allow a cluster of notes to be grouped together like a chant neume in modern notation, and effectively represent a single note. In essence, a melisma.
>
> However, I've noticed that I'm unable to use LyricText.self-alignment-X to shift these notes/melismas relative to the Lyrics when I add a bit of rubric notation, like a dagger. The preference is that the notes/melisma start at the center of the text. There is no problem when it's just a single note. Only when using this function.
>
> Any idea what I might be missing, or other things to try?
>
>
> Many thanks,
> Matt
>
> Sort of MWE:
>
> \version "2.24.4"
> \language "english"
>
> %
> % multiNoteNeume: Solution to note spacing issue (authored by Aaron Hall)
> % [LINK] https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2020-10/msg00083.html
> %
> multiNoteNeume =
> #(define-music-function
>     (notes)
>     (ly:music?)
>     ;; Adjust this number to support longer runs of notes.
>     (define denominator 11)
>     (let ((dur (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 denominator))
>             (count 0)
>             (last '()))
>         (for-some-music
>             (lambda (m)
>                 (if (music-is-of-type? m 'rhythmic-event)
>                     (begin
>                         (set! count (1+ count))
>                         (set! last m)
>                         (ly:music-set-property! m 'duration dur)
>                     #t)
>                 #f))
>             notes)
>         (if (ly:music? last)
>             (ly:music-set-property! last
>             'duration
>                 (ly:make-duration 2 0
>                 (- denominator (1- count))
>                 denominator)))
>         notes))
>
> redDagger = \markup {
>     \with-color #red
>     &dagger;
> }
>
> daggerAndGo = \markup { \override #'(word-space . 0.5) \line { { \redDagger } Go } }
>
> customLayout = \layout {
>     ragged-last = ##t
>
>     \context {
>         \Staff
>         \override TimeSignature.stencil = ##f
>         \override BarLine.extra-spacing-width = #'(0 . 2)
>     }
>
>     \context {
>         \Voice
>         \override Stem.stencil = ##f
>     }
>
>     \context {
>         \Lyrics
>         lyricMelismaAlignment = #CENTER
>     }
> } % end layout
>
> \score {
>     \new Staff
>     <<
>         \new Voice = "Cantus"
>         <<
>             \relative c' {
>                 \multiNoteNeume {c'4 (b)} \bar "||"
>                 \multiNoteNeume {c4 (b)} \bar "||"
>                 c \bar "||"
>             }
>         >>
>         \new Lyrics \lyricsto "Cantus" {
>             Go % This is the model
>             \tweak LyricText.self-alignment-X #1 \daggerAndGo % No shifting of lyrics at all
>             \tweak LyricText.self-alignment-X #0.47 \daggerAndGo % Single note works
>         }
>     >>
>     \customLayout
> } % end score
>
> % Paper settings
> #(set! paper-alist (cons '("content-size" . (cons (* 3.25 in) (* 7 in))) paper-alist))
>
> zerospacing = #'((basic-distance . 0) (minimum-distance . 0) (padding . 0) (stretchability . 0))
>
> \paper {
>     tagline = ##f
>     #(include-special-characters)
>
>     page-breaking = #ly:one-page-breaking
>
>     #(set-paper-size "content-size")
>
>     left-margin = 0.0\in
>     top-margin = 0.0\in
>     right-margin = 0.0\in
>     bottom-margin = 0.0\in
>
>     system-system-spacing =
>         #'((basic-distance . 11) (minimum-distance . 11) (padding . 0) (stretchability . 0))
>
>     score-system-spacing =
>         #'((basic-distance . 11) (minimum-distance . 11) (padding . 0) (stretchability . 0))
>
>     score-markup-spacing = \zerospacing
>     markup-system-spacing = \zerospacing
>     markup-markup-spacing = \zerospacing
>     top-system-spacing = \zerospacing
>     top-markup-spacing = \zerospacing
>     last-bottom-spacing = \zerospacing
> }

Quoting the docs: "By default, lyrics syllables that start a melisma
are left-aligned on their note. The alignment can be altered using the
lyricMelismaAlignment property"
https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/snippets/text#text-aligning-syllables-with-melisma
In 2.26. this snippet is in NR
https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/techniques-specific-to-lyrics#placing-syllables-horizontally
Look for "Aligning syllables with melisma"

Cheers,
  Harm