psalm.sty

\usepackage{array}



% HORIZONTAL SPACING

\setlength\parindent{0pt}

% amount of space for notes e.g. dynamics and Full
\newlength\notesamount
\setlength\notesamount{4.5em}

% amount of space for verse numbers
\newlength\versenumamount
\setlength\versenumamount{1.5em}

% amount of space for verse text
\newlength\textamount
\setlength\textamount{20cm}

% amount to indent second half of each verse
\newlength\indentamount
\setlength\indentamount{1em}



% VERTICAL SPACING

% vertical space between verses
\newlength\versesepamount
\setlength\versesepamount{0.7em}

% vertical space between sections of psalm
\newlength\stanzagapamount
\setlength\stanzagapamount{1.2em}



% define right-aligned paragraph column for use below
\newcolumntype{R}[1]
    {>{\raggedleft\let\newline\\\arraybackslash\hspace{0pt}}p{#1}}

% verse number
\newcounter{VerseCounter}

% environment for psalm text
\newenvironment{psalm}[1][1]
{
    % number of first verse
    \setcounter{VerseCounter}{#1}
    \begin{tabular}{ R{\notesamount} R{\versenumamount} p{\textamount} }
}
{
    \end{tabular}
}



% below we set some characters as 'active' characters,
% allowing them to be defined as macros

% bar line
\catcode`|=\active
\newcommand{|}{\textbar}

% dot for change of note (use instead of space between words)
\catcode`_=\active
\newcommand{_}
    {\hspace{0.15em}$\vcenter{\hbox{\tiny$\bullet$}}$\hspace{0.15em}}

% pause between words
\newcommand{\ps}
    {*\space}

% dynamics style
\newcommand{\dyn}[1]{\textbf{\textit{#1}}}

% second half of chant
\newcommand{\second}{$\dagger$}

% dot above letter to denote syllable
\newcommand{\syl}[1]{$\dot{\textrm{#1}}$}



% verses use the following columns:
% dynamics and full markings | verse numbers | verse text

% normal verse
\newcommand{\vs}[4]{#1 & \theVerseCounter.\stepcounter{VerseCounter} &
    #2\thinspace :\\
    #3 & &\hspace{\indentamount}#4\\[\versesepamount]}

% verse without gap in middle
\newcommand{\vscontinue}[4]{#1 & \theVerseCounter.\stepcounter{VerseCounter} &
    #2\thinspace : \raisebox{-0.08em}{\large{$\longrightarrow$}}\\
    #3 & &\hspace{\indentamount}#4\\[\versesepamount]}

% verse without verse number e.g. Gloria
\newcommand{\vsnonums}[4]{#1 & & #2\thinspace :\\
    #3 & &\hspace{\indentamount}#4\\[\versesepamount]}

% break a long line and indent appropriately
\newcommand{\breaklongline}{\newline\hbox{}\hspace{2\indentamount}}

% gap to signify a new section of the psalm
\newcommand{\stanzagap}{\vspace{\stanzagapamount}\\[-12pt]}