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Topic: Space-consuming dashes in lyrics (Read 3037 times) previous topic - next topic

Space-consuming dashes in lyrics

Another space-consuming issue is the dash in multiple-
syllable words in lyrics. If a non-ultimate-syllable is the
longest syllable for a note of all the lines of lyrics, it
would be nice to see the dash, and spaces around it, squeezed
out. I tried to work around this by combining syllables in
the other lines of lyrics, but that required visible slurs
in the music--not acceptable. This also would seem an easy
change?

Re: Space-consuming dashes in lyrics

Reply #1 –
Stephen,
I ain't sure of what U want.
Do you want that the hyphen that separates syllables disappear ?
In that case the solution is obvious : Do not use an hyphen, use a space instead (though I'm afraid this risks to confuse the reader, especially when lyrics are in a foreign language).

HTH,
          MAD

Re: Space-consuming dashes in lyrics

Reply #2 –
In every piece of vocal music I have ever seen, if more than one note has only one syllable, it is always slurred.
Adam

Re: Space-consuming dashes in lyrics

Reply #3 –
I can tell you that in Bach chorals, it ain't the case. Guess it's a lazyness of JSBach or of the engraver, but it is all the book long.
That had lead me to write A-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-le(...)-lu(...)-ia in the BWV 225 (?) : "Singet des Herrn ein neues Lied" that I sung last year. But that was the only way because of the very long (more than 48 measures sometimes) the avoid a slur that would not mean very much. Because I guess no one can do all this in one breath !!

However when it's just for 2 or three notes, it's better to slur them.
Dominique