Bring text/line segments in Lilypond in the same vertical position

Question

I have many places in my Lilypond score where my line+text combination stand in different heights. I would like them to be in the same height. Here is an example:

I have defined these as:

dord = {\once \override TextSpanner.bound-details.right.text = # " ord "
        \once \override TextSpanner.bound-details.right.stencil-align-dir-y = #0
        \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.arrow = ##t }
dspt = {\once \override TextSpanner.bound-details.right.text = # "  s.p. "
        \once \override TextSpanner.bound-details.right.stencil-align-dir-y = #0 
        \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.arrow = ##t }

How can I force them to stay on the same y-position?

Answer 1

Do you use \new Dynamics? So for instance:

\new Staff { c''4 4 4 4 }
\new Dynamics { s4 s2.\p }
\new Staff { c'4 4 4 4 }

Answer 2

To get dynamics or similar markup to appear at a constant vertical position, use a \new Dynamic block. Fill this with spacer rests (s) of the right values to get the correct horizontal position. And attach the dynamics/markup to these spacers.
Combine the dynamic block with the regular staff block in parallel (<< \new Dynamics {...} \new Staff {...} >>) .

(This is particularly useful for instruments like piano that have their dynamics centred between two staves.)

dspt = {
    \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.text = #" s.p."
    \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.arrow = ##t 
}

dord = {
    \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.text = #" ord"
    \once\override Staff.TextSpanner.bound-details.right.arrow = ##t
}

<<
     \new Dynamics {
        \dspt s1\startTextSpan |
        s4 s4\stopTextSpan \dord s2\startTextSpan |
        s2 s2\stopTextSpan |
    }
    \new Staff {
        r2 r4 e''8 8 |
        e''16 16 16 16 \repeat tremolo 8 {g''32} \repeat tremolo 16 {32} |
        \repeat tremolo 16 {32} c'''2 |
    }
>>