Lyrics

• Sep 22, 2011 - 08:49

I know that cutting and pasting lyrics has been the subject of several threads, all of which I've read, but my request is slightly different I think.

I've just completed a score of a medley of 6 local traditional songs for Soprano Alto Tenor Bass. I typed the songs' lyrics under the soprano stave in the hope and expectation that when I separated out the parts the lyrics would appear on each part, but dismay, they don't and I have to type the lyrics into each part separately.

I appreciate that the lyric spacing might change with the parts, but does this really prevent lyrics being copied automatically from one stave to the others when a score is separated into parts?


Comments

First, it seems what you describe could only work if all voices have exactly the same number of notes - no places where middle voices hold out long notes while the outer voices move, etc. Second, choral music is rarely extracted into parts - people are accustomed to seeing the full SATB. And most importantly, I'd say what you describe is almost never what I'd want. If I,ve attached lyrics to only one staff in a composition, it's because that staff is the only one with lyrics. If I write a chart for big band with vocalist, I certainly don't want lyrics copied to the saxophone parts.

But sure, copy and paste of lyrics definitely seems useful.

In reply to by Marc Sabatella

You are absolutely right that this is not usual. I normally only arrange for my sax quartet, and I've never done four part vocal score before, but I was asked to. It's something to do with a community singing event I think.

Anyway, thanks for your reply. I can see the logic of not doing what I asked for now. I think I'll stick to sax quartets !!!

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