Custom dynamic mark

Question

I am in the process of engraving a sheet of piano music. I wrote a custom dynamic mark — the look of which I am very happy with, but the behavior, not totally. It is the following:

mff = \tweak DynamicText.self-alignment-X #LEFT
    #(make-dynamic-script 
    (markup 
        #:dynamic "mf"
        #:normal-text #:italic #:teeny "2ème fois"
        #:dynamic "f"))

When used, it looks like:

When not used, it looks like:

I am happy with the mark beginning below the note to which it is attached (as opposed to centered below that note); but I would like that it doesn't postpone the next note until the mark is entirely written. Ideally, it would affect the bar width only if the line marking the end of the bar risks cutting-off the mark.

I can't find what I'm looking for in the documentation.

In case there is any need for it, here is my code for the music:

%% VERSION
\version "2.20.0"

\paper {
    #(include-special-characters)
}
    
mff = \tweak DynamicText.self-alignment-X #LEFT
    #(make-dynamic-script 
    (markup 
        #:dynamic "mf"
        #:normal-text #:italic #:teeny "2ème fois"
        #:dynamic "f"))

%% PIANO UP
pianoUpper = \relative c' {
    \override DynamicLineSpanner.staff-padding = #3
    \clef "treble"
    \key d \minor
    \time 4/4
        
    <\tweak font-size #-3 a f'>4 \f <\tweak font-size #-3 c g'> <f a> <d bes'> | 
    <f a>2 <e g> |
    f2. r4 \bar "||"
    <f a> \mf \< <f a> <f a> <f a>8 <a c> |
    <a c>4. <g bes>8 <f a>4 f \! |
        
    <f a> <f a>8 <e g> <f a>4 <f a>8 <a c> |
    <a c>4. \> <g bes>8 <f a>4 r \! |
    <f a> \p \< <f a> <f a> <f a>8 <a c> |
    <a c>4. <g bes>8 <f a>4 f \! |
    <f a> <f a>8 <e g> <f a>4 <f a>8 <a c> |
        
    <a c>4. \> <g bes>8 <f a>4 r \! |
    \repeat volta 2 {
        c'2\( d8 c bes a |
        bes2 c8 bes a g |
        a2 bes8 a g f |
        g4.\) g8 c,2 \> |
            
        <\tweak font-size #-3 a f'>4 \< <\tweak font-size #-3 c g'> <f a> <d bes'> |
    }
    \alternative { 
        {
            <f a>2 \> <e g>4 r \! | 
        }
        {
            <c a'>2\( <bes g'>\) |
            <a f'>2. r4 \bar "|."
        }
    }
}

%% PIANO LOW
pianoLower = \relative c {
    \clef "bass"
    \key d \minor
    
    f4 c f bes, |
    c2 <c, c'> |
    <f f'>4 c' f, r |
    f' <a c> f <a c> |
    c, <e bes' c> f <a c> | 

    f <a c> f <a c> |
    c, <e bes' c> <f a c> r |
    f <a c> f <a c> |
    c, <e bes' c> f <a c> | 
    f <a c> f <a c> |
        
    c, <e bes' c> <f a c> r |
    f <a c> d, <fis c'> |
    g, <g' bes d> c, <e bes' c> |
    f <a c> d, <f bes> |
    c <e bes c> c <e g> |
        
    f c f bes, |
    c2 c4 c |
    c2 <c, c'> |
    <f f'>4 c' f, r |
}

%% SCORE
\score {
    <<
        \new PianoStaff <<
            \new Staff = "upper" \pianoUpper
            \new Staff = "lower" \pianoLower
        >>
    >>
}

Answer 1

You can explicitly set the dimension of your markup using \with-dimensions (or in this case, as we are already within the definition of a Scheme macro, #:with-dimensions. This macro takes two Scheme pairs that define the left and right as well as the bottom and top edge of the markup. The markup itself can be bigger than the box you define with these measures, and when typeset the bounding of this box will be used. (See the documentation for more information.)

Because \with-dimensions only accepts one argument, you need to additional wrap your markup in another \line macro. So, you could e.g. write your macro like this:

mff = \tweak DynamicText.self-alignment-X #LEFT
    #(make-dynamic-script 
    (markup #:with-dimensions '(0 . 5) '(-3 . 3) #:line 
       (#:dynamic "mf"
        #:normal-text #:italic #:teeny "2ème fois"
        #:dynamic "f")))

Result:

There are also several other ways of tweaking the dimensions and alignment of dynamics, some of which are explained in this snippet.

Answer 2

If you use this definition that looks just like a dynamic mark,

mff= _ \markup { \dynamic mf \italic \teeny "2ème fois" \dynamic f }

then the result is this:

Answer 3

I actually just created a function that would allow me to specify a dynamic and arbitrary text:

#(define-markup-command
  (staff-expr layout props text)
  (markup?)
  #:properties ((rel-fontsize 0))
  "Creates expression text for a staff.
   
   By default, staff expression text's font is reduced by 0.5
   and is italicized."
  (interpret-markup layout props
   (markup #:line
           (#:with-dimensions '(0 . 0) '(0 . 0)
            (#:fontsize rel-fontsize (#:italic text))))))

staffExpr =
#(define-scheme-function
  (text)
  (markup?)
  #{
    \markup \staff-expr #text
  #}
)

dynExpr = 
#(define-event-function
  (dyn expr) 
  (ly:event? markup?)
  #{
    \tweak DynamicText.self-alignment-X #LEFT
    #(make-dynamic-script
      #{
        \markup \concat {
          #(ly:music-property dyn 'text)
          \pad-x #.75
          \normal-text #expr
        }
      #}
    )
  #}
)

I probably could've done that more simply—as I'm seeing what was done by the OP, but I'm fairly new to Lilypond, myself.

In any event, here's the first two measures of Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi, where I used the functions above:

\version "2.22.2"

#(define-markup-command
  (staff-expr layout props text)
  (markup?)
  #:properties ((rel-fontsize 0))
  "Creates expression text for a staff.
   
   By default, staff expression text's font is reduced by 0.5
   and is italicized."
  (interpret-markup layout props
   (markup #:line
           (#:with-dimensions '(0 . 0) '(0 . 0)
            (#:fontsize rel-fontsize (#:italic text))))))

staffExpr =
#(define-scheme-function
  (text)
  (markup?)
  #{
    \markup \staff-expr #text
  #}
)

dynExpr = 
#(define-event-function
  (dyn expr) 
  (ly:event? markup?)
  #{
    \tweak DynamicText.self-alignment-X #LEFT
    #(make-dynamic-script
      #{
        \markup \concat {
          #(ly:music-property dyn 'text)
          \pad-x #.75
          \normal-text #expr
        }
      #}
    )
  #}
)

beamHeight =
#(define-music-function
  (startHeight endHeight)
  (number? number?)
  #{
    \override Beam.positions = #(cons startHeight endHeight)
  #}
)

Props = {
  \numericTimeSignature
  \time 4/4
  \key c \major
  \partial 16
}

RHVoiceOne = {
  \change Staff = "LH" a16~ |
  \stemUp \once \beamHeight #6.25 #6.25 a16 \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \beamHeight #-6.25 #-6.25 \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \once \beamHeight #6.5 #7.5 \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' b' e' |
  \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" \once \beamHeight #6.25 #6.25 a16 \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \beamHeight #-6.25 #-6.25 \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' a' \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" a \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' \once \beamHeight #-5.75 #-6.25 a'8. \stemUp \change Staff = "LH" b16 \once \beamHeight #7.75 #8.75 c' \stemDown \change Staff = "RH" e' g' b' |
}

Dynamics = {
  \override DynamicText.X-offset = #0.59125 \override DynamicText.Y-offset = #1.75
  % Note the use of \dynExpr that takes a dynamic marking and some text
  s16 | s16 \dynExpr \p \staffExpr legato s16 s8 s4 * 3 | s1 |
}

Sustain = {
  s16 \sustainOn |
  s1 |
  s2 s8 s8\sustainOff s4 |
}

LHVoiceOne = {
  s16 | s1 | s1 |
}

\paper {
  system-system-spacing = #'((basic-distance . 18))
  %annotate-spacing = ##t
  first-page-number = 10
  evenHeaderMarkup = \markup \null
  oddHeaderMarkup = \markup \null
  evenFooterMarkup = \markup {
    \fill-line {
      \center-column {
        \on-the-fly \first-page
        \fromproperty #'header:copyright
        \vspace #1.807
        \null
        \italic
        \on-the-fly \print-page-number-check-first
        \fromproperty #'page:page-number-string
      }
    }
  }
  oddFooterMarkup = \evenFooterMarkup
}
\score {
  \new GrandStaff \with {
  } <<
    \new PianoStaff \with {
      \override StaffGrouper.staff-staff-spacing.basic-distance = #13.65
    } <<
      \new Staff = "RH" \with {
      } <<
        \new Voice = "1" { 
          \Props
          \RHVoiceOne
        }
      >>
      \new Dynamics {
        \Dynamics
      }
      \new Staff = "LH" \with {
      } {
        \clef bass << 
          \new Voice = "1" {
            \Props
            \LHVoiceOne
          }
        >>
      }
      \new Dynamics = "Sustain" \with {
        pedalSustainStyle = #'mixed
        \override PianoPedalBracket.thickness = #1.35
        \override SustainPedalLineSpanner.staff-affinity = #UP
        \override PianoPedalBracket.Y-offset = #-1.6
        \override SustainPedal.X-offset = #-0.75
        \override SustainPedal.Y-offset = #-1.75
      } {
        \Sustain
      }
    >>
  >>
  \layout {
  }
  \midi {
  }
}

Answer 4

I know nothing of the intricacies of LilyPond. But this is normally notated simply and sufficiently as mf-f. Would suggesting you notate it that way be considered a solution?