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Working with lyrics and variables

Variables containing lyrics can be created, but the lyrics must be entered in lyric mode: 

musicOne = \relative {
  c''4 b8. a16 g4. f8 e4 d c2
}
verseOne = \lyricmode {
  Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
}
\score {
  <<
    \new Voice = "one" {
      \time 2/4
      \musicOne
    }
    \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
      \verseOne
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]

Durations do not need to be added if the variable is to be invoked with \addlyrics or \lyricsto.

For different or more complex orderings, the best way is to define the music and lyric variables first, then set up the hierarchy of staves and lyrics, omitting the lyrics themselves, and then add the lyrics using \context underneath. This ensures that the voices referenced by \lyricsto have always been defined earlier. For example: 

sopranoMusic = \relative { c''4 c c c }
contraltoMusic = \relative { a'4 a a a }
sopranoWords = \lyricmode { Sop -- ra -- no words }
contraltoWords = \lyricmode { Con -- tral -- to words }

\score {
  \new ChoirStaff <<
    \new Staff {
      \new Voice = "sopranos" {
        \sopranoMusic
      }
    }
    \new Lyrics = "sopranos"
    \new Lyrics = "contraltos"
    \new Staff {
      \new Voice = "contraltos" {
        \contraltoMusic
      }
    }
    \context Lyrics = "sopranos" {
      \lyricsto "sopranos" {
        \sopranoWords
      }
    }
    \context Lyrics = "contraltos" {
      \lyricsto "contraltos" {
        \contraltoWords
      }
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]

See also

Notation Reference: Placing lyrics vertically.

Internals Reference: LyricCombineMusic, Lyrics.

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LilyPond Notation Reference v2.25.15 (development-branch).