Moving lyrics -- but not the easy way
I've got a problem -- I have a tune that I typeset for a specific performance in which I reduced the lyrics by two stanzas to reduce the running time. Now, I'd really like the lyrics to be complete. Is there a reasonable way to move lines 2-5 of the lyrics down to become lines 4-7, allowing me to add new lines 2 and 3?
I was looking at the uncompressed XML form and I figure that I could do some shifty stuff with that in emacs, if it has a chance of working. Would I need to have a series of blank entries, or just a blank first entry on each line when I re-import the XML into MuseScore?
Or, is this one of those times when I should just "cut my losses", delete lines 2-5, and start again?
Thanks,
-Don
Comments
A simple way, if it is useful for you:
Hold down Ctrl and click on each word in the same verse (turn blue);
While still holding down Ctrl drag in position with the mouse.
Look at:
http://musescore.org/en/node/21522
http://musescore.org/en/node/23764
In reply to Welcome aboard DG_from_Oz, by Shoichi
I had read that method of moving lyrics --and, if all that I needed was some white-space to clear notes below the staff on ledger lines, I think that it would do the job. But I'm trying to insert lines in the middle of the existing lyrics. Just to clarify, I'll attach the score -- though I have some reservations. It's under copyright, and I respect the composer's rights. I have purchased his book, I'm only doing a "change of format" to produce a better score for performance.
But I guess that I need to show what the problem is to get useful feedback.
The score shows what I've got with partial lyrics and the PDF guitartex output shows the complete lyrics. As I said, I had originally dropped verses 2 and 3 since this reduced the running time without completely compromising the "message" of the song. Now, performing without the time constraints, I'd like to add in the missing verses.
Thanks,
-Don
In reply to RE: Suggestion by DG_from_Oz
So you have lyrics 1,4,5,6,7,8 already entered, having skipped over lyrics 2 and 3 for brevity.
Now you wish to insert 2 and 3 and they should be in order.
My suggestion:
Enter the two missing lyrics (2 and 3) after those already entered. Yes, they will be out of order - 1,4,5,6,7,8,2,3.
Instead of typing everything, you can copy the missing lyrics 2,3 from your pdf file into a text editor (adding hyphens between syllables) and then paste into MuseScore as described here:
http://musescore.org/en/node/21522
Next, you create enough white space between lyrics 1,4 then select and drag lyrics 2,3 to fill the created white space. Here's how:
1. Select all the lyrics by right clicking on a single lyric (like the first word, which just happens to be the word 'Last'). Then in the drop down menu which appears, Select --> All Similar Elements to turn all the lyrics blue.
2. You then unselect all the #1 lyrics by carefully Ctrl clicking on each syllable to turn them black - that is, unselected.
3. Keep holding down the Ctrl key and drag all the blue (selected) lyrics down, to create enough white space for lyrics 2,3 - which you then Ctrl click to select - and then drag lyrics 2,3 all together into the correct position.
You can perform the above one system at a time; or if you don't make an errant click while selecting, you can try a page, or the entire score at once.
Regards.