I answered my own question: create an invisible context with remove-layer = 3. For anyone curious:
\version "2.24.0" \layout { \context { \name "NullStaff" \type "Engraver_group" \consists Axis_group_engraver \override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = #DOWN } \context { \Score \accepts NullStaff } \context { \StaffGroup \consists Keep_alive_together_engraver } } restsAlive = #'(stem-interface note-head-interface rest-interface ) I = { \tag #'individual \unset Staff.keepAliveInterfaces e'1 \break \tag #'individual \set Staff.keepAliveInterfaces = #'() e'1 \break R1^"show rests in the combined staff for normal systems" \tag #'combined \set Staff.keepAliveInterfaces = #'() % When rests are set to "worth living" don't put these changes on the system break % This is due to a bug when an MMR is before or after the break R1 \break R1 \break R1 \tag #'combined \set Staff.keepAliveInterfaces = \restsAlive R1 } II = { c'1 c'1 R1 R1*2 R1*2 } << \new Staff { g'1 g'1 g'1 g'1 g'1^"hide the combined staff for crowded systems" g'1 g'1 } \new StaffGroup << \new NullStaff \with { \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = 3 } { s1*5 } \new Staff = "1+2" \with { instrumentName = "1 2" shortInstrumentName = "1 2" \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-empty = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = 2 keepAliveInterfaces = \restsAlive } \removeWithTag #'individual << \partCombine \I \II >> \new Staff = "1" \with { instrumentName = "1" shortInstrumentName = "1" \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-empty = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = 1 keepAliveInterfaces = #'() } \removeWithTag #'combined \I \new Staff = "2" \with { instrumentName = "2" shortInstrumentName = "2" \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-empty = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = 1 keepAliveInterfaces = #'() } \removeWithTag #'combined \II >> \new Staff { \clef bass c1 c1 c1 c1 c1 c1 c1 } >> On Sun, Jan 8, 2023 at 5:13 PM Saul Tobin <saul.james.to...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > When condensing staves using remove-layer as described here > https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/notation/modifying-single-staves#hiding-staves, > what is the best way to temporarily hide the combined staff as well as the > individual staves? E.g. for a particularly crowded system where both > players have rests. > > Thanks for your help, > > Saul >