Re: Extending lyric extender

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Yann,

> Is this behaviour normal ?

Yes.

> If so, is there a way to "extend the extender" so it takes the full duration 
> of the half note ?

Only by assigning it to the voice with the extension note(s):

\version "2.16"

\paper { ragged-right = ##f }

sopMusic = {
  c'4 d' e' f'
  g'1
}

altMusic = {
  c'4 b c' d'
  f'2( e')
}

saMusic = {
  <<
    \context Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \sopMusic }
    \\
    \context Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \altMusic }
  >> \oneVoice
}

someWords = \lyricmode {
  Set the lyr -- ics thus! __
}

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \saMusic
    \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \someWords
  >>
}

otherWords = \lyricmode {
  \set associatedVoice = "soprano"
  Set the lyr -- \set associatedVoice = "alto" ics
  \once \override LyricText #'X-offset = #-2
  thus! __
}

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \saMusic
    \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \otherWords
  >>
}

Two observations:
1. The “\set associatedVoice” needs to before the syllable PRIOR to the one you 
actually want to “switch” to the new voice — one of my least favourite things 
in Lilypond.
2. The X-offset tweak is to avoid the weird shift of the text (to match the 
shift of the note in that voice), and thus may not be necessary in your 
situation — comment it out to see the default output.

Hope this helps!
Kieren.