Doc -- Scheme tutorial: Add discussion about lists and alists

[lilypond.git] / Documentation / extending / scheme-tutorial.itely

@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-

@ignore
    Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH

    When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the
    version that you are working on.  See TRANSLATION for details.
@end ignore

@c \version "2.12.0"

@node Scheme tutorial
@chapter Scheme tutorial

@funindex #
@cindex Scheme
@cindex GUILE
@cindex Scheme, in-line code
@cindex accessing Scheme
@cindex evaluating Scheme
@cindex LISP

LilyPond uses the Scheme programming language, both as part of the
input syntax, and as internal mechanism to glue modules of the program
together.  This section is a very brief overview of entering data in
Scheme.  If you want to know more about Scheme, see
@uref{http://@/www@/.schemers@/.org}.

LilyPond uses the GNU Guile implementation of Scheme, which is
based on the Scheme @qq{R5RS} standard. If you are learning Scheme
to use with LilyPond, working with a different implementation (or
referring to a different standard) is not recommended. Information
on guile can be found at @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/}.
The @qq{R5RS} Scheme standard is located at
@uref{http://www.schemers.org/Documents/Standards/R5RS/}.

@menu
* Introduction to Scheme::
* Scheme in LilyPond::
* Building complicated functions::
@end menu

@node Introduction to Scheme
@section Introduction to Scheme

We begin with an introduction to Scheme.  For this brief introduction,
we will use the GUILE interpreter to explore how the language works.
Once we are familiar with Scheme, we will show how the language can
be integrated in LilyPond files.


@menu
* Scheme sandbox::
* Scheme variables::
* Scheme simple data types::
* Scheme compound data types::
* Calculations in Scheme::
* Scheme procedures::
* Scheme conditionals::
@end menu

@node Scheme sandbox
@subsection Scheme sandbox

The LilyPond installation includes the Guile implementation of
Scheme.  On most systems you can experiment in a Scheme sandbox by
opening a terminal window and typing @q{guile}.  On some systems,
notably Windows, you may need to set the environment variable
@code{GUILE_LOAD_PATH} to the directory @code{../usr/shr/guile/1.8}
in the LilyPond installation. For the full path to this directory
see @rlearning{Other sources of information}.  Alternatively, Windows
users may simply choose @q{Run} from the Start menu and enter
@q{guile}.

Once the guile sandbox is running, you will received a guile prompt:

@lisp
guile>
@end lisp

You can enter Scheme expressions at this prompt to experiment with Scheme.

@node Scheme variables
@subsection Scheme variables

Scheme variables can have any valid scheme value, including a Scheme
procedure.

Scheme variables are created with @code{define}:

@lisp
guile> (define a 2)
guile>
@end lisp

Scheme variables can be evaluated at the guile prompt simply by
typing the variable name:

@lisp
guile> a
2
guile>
@end lisp

Scheme variables can be printed on the display by use of the display function:

@lisp
guile> (display a)
2guile>
@end lisp

@noindent
Note that the value @code{2} and the guile prompt @code{guile} both
showed up on the same line.  This can be avoided by calling the newline
procedure or displaying a newline character.

@lisp
guile> (display a)(newline)
2
guile> (display a)(display "\n")
2
guile>
@end lisp

Once a variable has been created, its value can be changed with @code{set!}:

@lisp
guile> (set! a 12345)
guile> a
12345
guile>
@end lisp

@node Scheme simple data types
@subsection Scheme simple data types

The most basic concept in a language is data typing: numbers, character
strings, lists, etc.  Here is a list of simple Scheme data types that are
often used with LilyPond.

@table @asis
@item Booleans
Boolean values are True or False.  The Scheme for True is @code{#t}
and False is @code{#f}.
@funindex ##t
@funindex ##f

@item Numbers
Numbers are entered in the standard fashion,
@code{1} is the (integer) number one, while @code{-1.5} is a
floating point number (a non-integer number).

@item Strings
Strings are enclosed in double quotes,

@example
"this is a string"
@end example

Strings may span several lines:

@example
"this
is
a string"
@end example

@noindent
and the newline characters at the end of each line will be included
in the string.

Newline characters can also be added by including @code{\n} in the
string.

@example
"this\nis a\nmultiline string"
@end example


Quotation marks and backslashes are added to strings
by preceding them with a backslash.
The string @code{\a said "b"} is entered as

@example
"\\a said \"b\""
@end example

@end table

There are additional Scheme data types that are not discussed here.
For a complete listing see the Guile reference guide,
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/manual/html_node/Simple-Data-Types.html}.

@node Scheme compound data types
@subsection Scheme compound data types

There are also compound data types in Scheme.  The  types commonly used in
LilyPond programming include pairs, lists, alists, and hash tables.

@unnumberedsubsubsec Pairs

The foundational compound data type of Scheme is the @code{pair}.  As
might be expected from its name, a pair is two values glued together.
The operator used to form a pair is called @code{cons}.

@lisp
guile> (cons 4 5)
(4 . 5)
guile>
@end lisp

Note that the pair is displayed as two items surrounded by
parentheses and separated by whitespace, a period (@code{.}), and
more whitespace.  The period is @emph{not} a decimal point, but
rather an indicator of the pair.

Pairs can also be entered as literal values by preceding them with
a single quote character.

@lisp
guile> '(4 . 5)
(4 . 5)
guile>
@end lisp

The two elements of a pair may be any valid Scheme value:

@lisp
guile> (cons #t #f)
(#t . #f)
guile> '("blah-blah" . 3.1415926535)
("blah-blah" . 3.1415926535)
guile>
@end lisp

The first and second elements of the pair can be accessed by the
Scheme procedures @code{car} and @code{cdr}, respectively.

@lisp
guile> (define mypair (cons 123 "hello there")
... )
guile> (car mypair)
123
guile> (cdr mypair)
"hello there"
guile>
@end lisp

@noindent

Note:  @code{cdr} is pronounced "could-er", according Sussman and
Abelson, see
@uref{http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book-Z-H-14.html#footnote_Temp_133}


@unnumberedsubsubsec Lists

TODO -- write about lists

A very common Scheme data structure is the @emph{list}.  Formally, a
list is defined as either the empty list (represented as @code{'()},
or a pair whose @code{cdr} is a list.

There are many ways of creating lists.  Perhaps the most common is
with the @code{list} procedure:

@lisp
guile> (list 1 2 3 "abc" 17.5)
(1 2 3 "abc" 17.5)
@end lisp

As can be seen, a list is displayed in the form of individual elements
separated by whitespace and enclosed in parentheses.  Unlike a pair,
there is no period between the elements.

A list can also be entered as a literal list by enclosing its
elements in parentheses, and adding a quote:

@lisp
guile> '(17 23 "foo" "bar" "bazzle")
(17 23 "foo" "bar" "bazzle")
@end lisp

Lists are a central part of Scheme.  In, fact, Scheme is considered
a dialect of lisp, where @q{lisp} is an abbreviation for
@q{List Processing}.  Scheme expressions are all lists.

@unnumberedsubsubsec Association lists (alists)

A special type of list is an @emph{association list} or @emph{alist}.
An alist is used to store data for easy retrieval.

Alists are lists whose elements are pairs.  The @code{car} of each
element is called the @code{key}, and the @code{cdr} of each element
is called the @code{value}.  The Scheme procedure @code{assoc} is
used to retrieve an entry from the alist, and @code{cdr} is used to
retrieve the value:

@lisp
guile> (define my-alist '((1  . "A") (2 . "B") (3 . "C")))
guile> my-alist
((1 . "A") (2 . "B") (3 . "C"))
guile> (assoc 2 my-alist)
(2 . "B")
guile> (cdr (assoc 2 my-alist))
"B"
guile>
@end lisp

Alists are widely used in LilyPond to store properties and other data.

@unnumberedsubsubsec Hash tables



TODO -- write about hash tables


@node Calculations in Scheme
@subsection Calculations in Scheme

We have been using lists all along.  A calculation, like @code{(+ 1 2)}
is also a list (containing the symbol @code{+} and the numbers 1
and@tie{}2).  Normally lists are interpreted as calculations, and the
Scheme interpreter substitutes the outcome of the calculation.  To enter a
list, we stop the evaluation.  This is done by quoting the list with a
quote @code{'} symbol.  So, for calculations do not use a quote.

Inside a quoted list or pair, there is no need to quote anymore.  The
following is a pair of symbols, a list of symbols and a list of lists
respectively,

@example
#'(stem . head)
#'(staff clef key-signature)
#'((1) (2))
@end example

Scheme can be used to do calculations.  It uses @emph{prefix}
syntax.  Adding 1 and@tie{}2 is written as @code{(+ 1 2)} rather than the
traditional @math{1+2}.

@lisp
(+ 1 2)
  @result{} 3
@end lisp

The arrow @result{} shows that the result of evaluating @code{(+ 1 2)}
is@tie{}@code{3}.  Calculations may be nested; the result of a function may
be used for another calculation.

@lisp
(+ 1 (* 3 4))
  @result{} (+ 1 12)
  @result{} 13
@end lisp

These calculations are examples of evaluations; an expression like
@code{(* 3 4)} is replaced by its value @code{12}.

The same assignment can be done in completely in Scheme as well,

@example
#(define twentyFour (* 2 twelve))
@end example

@c this next section is confusing -- need to rewrite

The @emph{name} of a variable is also an expression, similar to a
number or a string.  It is entered as

@example
#'twentyFour
@end example

@funindex #'symbol
@cindex quoting in Scheme

The quote mark @code{'} prevents the Scheme interpreter from substituting
@code{24} for the @code{twentyFour}.  Instead, we get the name
@code{twentyFour}.

@node Scheme procedures
@subsection Scheme procedures

@unnumberedsubsubsec Predicates

@unnumberedsubsubsec Return values

TODO -- write about scheme procedures

@node Scheme conditionals
@subsection Scheme conditionals

@unnumberedsubsubsec if

@unnumberedsubsubsec cond


@node Scheme in LilyPond
@section Scheme in LilyPond


@menu
* LilyPond Scheme syntax::
* LilyPond variables::
* Input variables and Scheme::
* Object properties::
* LilyPond compound variables::
* Internal music representation::
@end menu

@node LilyPond Scheme syntax
@subsection LilyPond Scheme syntax

In a music file, snippets of Scheme code are introduced with the hash
mark @code{#}.  So, the previous examples translated to LilyPond are

@example
##t ##f
#1 #-1.5
#"this is a string"
#"this
is
a string"
@end example

Note that LilyPond comments (@code{%} and @code{%@{ %@}}) cannot
be used within Scheme code.  Comments in Guile Scheme are entered
as follows:

@example
; this is a single-line comment

#!
  This a (non-nestable) Guile-style block comment
  But these are rarely used by Schemers and never in
  LilyPond source code
!#
@end example

Multiple consecutive scheme expressions in a music file can be
combined using the @code{begin} operator. This permits the number
of hash marks to be reduced to one.

@example
#(begin
  (define foo 0)
  (define bar 1))
@end example

@c todo -- # introduces a scheme *expression*
@c         need the concept of an expression

If @code{#} is followed by an opening parenthesis, @code{(}, as in
the example above, the parser will remain in Scheme mode until
a matching closing parenthesis, @code{)}, is found, so further
@code{#} symbols to introduce a Scheme section are not required.

For the rest of this section, we will assume that the data is entered
in a music file, so we add @code{#}s everywhere.

@node LilyPond variables
@subsection LilyPond variables


TODO -- make this read right

A similar thing
happens with variables.  After defining a variable

@example
twelve = 12
@end example

@noindent
variables can also be used in expressions, here

@example
twentyFour = (* 2 twelve)
@end example

@noindent
the number 24 is stored in the variable @code{twentyFour}.

@node Input variables and Scheme
@subsection Input variables and Scheme

The input format supports the notion of variables: in the following
example, a music expression is assigned to a variable with the name
@code{traLaLa}.

@example
traLaLa = @{ c'4 d'4 @}
@end example

@noindent

There is also a form of scoping: in the following example, the
@code{\layout} block also contains a @code{traLaLa} variable, which is
independent of the outer @code{\traLaLa}.
@example
traLaLa = @{ c'4 d'4 @}
\layout @{ traLaLa = 1.0 @}
@end example
@c
In effect, each input file is a scope, and all @code{\header},
@code{\midi}, and @code{\layout} blocks are scopes nested inside that
toplevel scope.

Both variables and scoping are implemented in the GUILE module system.
An anonymous Scheme module is attached to each scope.  An assignment of
the form
@example
traLaLa = @{ c'4 d'4 @}
@end example

@noindent
is internally converted to a Scheme definition
@example
(define traLaLa @var{Scheme value of `@code{... }'})
@end example

This means that input variables and Scheme variables may be freely
mixed.  In the following example, a music fragment is stored in the
variable @code{traLaLa}, and duplicated using Scheme.  The result is
imported in a @code{\score} block by means of a second variable
@code{twice}:

@lilypond[verbatim]
traLaLa = { c'4 d'4 }

%% dummy action to deal with parser lookahead
#(display "this needs to be here, sorry!")

#(define newLa (map ly:music-deep-copy
  (list traLaLa traLaLa)))
#(define twice
  (make-sequential-music newLa))

{ \twice }
@end lilypond

@c Due to parser lookahead

In this example, the assignment happens after the parser has
verified that nothing interesting happens after
@code{traLaLa = @{ ... @}}.  Without the dummy statement in the
above example, the @code{newLa} definition is executed before
@code{traLaLa} is defined, leading to a syntax error.

The above example shows how to @q{export} music expressions from the
input to the Scheme interpreter.  The opposite is also possible.  By
wrapping a Scheme value in the function @code{ly:export}, a Scheme
value is interpreted as if it were entered in LilyPond syntax.
Instead of defining @code{\twice}, the example above could also have
been written as

@example
...
@{ #(ly:export (make-sequential-music (list newLa))) @}
@end example

Scheme code is evaluated as soon as the parser encounters it.  To
define some Scheme code in a macro (to be called later), use
@ref{Void functions}, or

@example
#(define (nopc)
  (ly:set-option 'point-and-click #f))

...
#(nopc)
@{ c'4 @}
@end example

@knownissues

Mixing Scheme and LilyPond variables is not possible with the
@code{--safe} option.




@node Object properties
@subsection Object properties

This syntax will be used very frequently, since many of the layout
tweaks involve assigning (Scheme) values to internal variables, for
example

@example
\override Stem #'thickness = #2.6
@end example

This instruction adjusts the appearance of stems.  The value @code{2.6}
is put into the @code{thickness} variable of a @code{Stem}
object.  @code{thickness} is measured relative to the thickness of
staff lines, so these stem lines will be @code{2.6} times the
width of staff lines.  This makes stems almost twice as thick as their
normal size.  To distinguish between variables defined in input files (like
@code{twentyFour} in the example above) and variables of internal
objects, we will call the latter @q{properties} and the former
@q{variables.}  So, the stem object has a @code{thickness} property,
while @code{twentyFour} is an variable.

@cindex properties vs. variables
@cindex variables vs. properties

@c  todo -- here we're getting interesting.  We're now introducing
@c  LilyPond variable types.  I think this deserves a section all
@c  its own

@node LilyPond compound variables
@subsection LilyPond compound variables

@unnumberedsubsubsec Offsets

Two-dimensional offsets (X and Y coordinates) as well as object sizes
(intervals with a left and right point) are entered as @code{pairs}.  A
pair@footnote{In Scheme terminology, the pair is called @code{cons},
and its two elements are called @code{car} and @code{cdr} respectively.}
is entered as @code{(first . second)} and, like symbols, they must be quoted,

@example
\override TextScript #'extra-offset = #'(1 . 2)
@end example

This assigns the pair (1, 2) to the @code{extra-offset} property of the
TextScript object.  These numbers are measured in staff-spaces, so
this command moves the object 1 staff space to the right, and 2 spaces up.

@unnumberedsubsubsec Extents

todo -- write something about extents

@unnumberedsubsubsec Property alists

todo -- write something about property alists

@unnumberedsubsubsec Alist chains

todo -- write something about alist chains

@node Internal music representation
@subsection Internal music representation

When a music expression is parsed, it is converted into a set of
Scheme music objects.  The defining property of a music object is that
it takes up time.  Time is a rational number that measures the length
of a piece of music in whole notes.

A music object has three kinds of types:
@itemize
@item
music name: Each music expression has a name.  For example, a note
leads to a @rinternals{NoteEvent}, and @code{\simultaneous} leads to
a @rinternals{SimultaneousMusic}.  A list of all expressions
available is in the Internals Reference manual, under
@rinternals{Music expressions}.

@item
@q{type} or interface: Each music name has several @q{types} or
interfaces, for example, a note is an @code{event}, but it is also a
@code{note-event}, a @code{rhythmic-event}, and a
@code{melodic-event}.  All classes of music are listed in the
Internals Reference, under
@rinternals{Music classes}.

@item
C++ object: Each music object is represented by an object of the C++
class @code{Music}.
@end itemize

The actual information of a music expression is stored in properties.
For example, a @rinternals{NoteEvent} has @code{pitch} and
@code{duration} properties that store the pitch and duration of that
note.  A list of all properties available can be found in the
Internals Reference, under @rinternals{Music properties}.

A compound music expression is a music object that contains other
music objects in its properties.  A list of objects can be stored in
the @code{elements} property of a music object, or a single @q{child}
music object in the @code{element} property.  For example,
@rinternals{SequentialMusic} has its children in @code{elements},
and @rinternals{GraceMusic} has its single argument in
@code{element}.  The body of a repeat is stored in the @code{element}
property of @rinternals{RepeatedMusic}, and the alternatives in
@code{elements}.

@node Building complicated functions
@section Building complicated functions

This section explains how to gather the information necessary
to create complicated music functions.

@menu
* Displaying music expressions::
* Music properties::
* Doubling a note with slurs (example)::
* Adding articulation to notes (example)::
@end menu


@node Displaying music expressions
@subsection Displaying music expressions

@cindex internal storage
@cindex displaying music expressions
@cindex internal representation, displaying
@cindex displayMusic
@funindex \displayMusic

When writing a music function it is often instructive to inspect how
a music expression is stored internally.  This can be done with the
music function @code{\displayMusic}

@example
@{
  \displayMusic @{ c'4\f @}
@}
@end example

@noindent
will display

@example
(make-music
  'SequentialMusic
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'EventChord
          'elements
          (list (make-music
                  'NoteEvent
                  'duration
                  (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
                  'pitch
                  (ly:make-pitch 0 0 0))
                (make-music
                  'AbsoluteDynamicEvent
                  'text
                  "f")))))
@end example

By default, LilyPond will print these messages to the console along
with all the other messages.  To split up these messages and save
the results of @code{\display@{STUFF@}}, redirect the output to
a file.

@example
lilypond file.ly >display.txt
@end example

With a bit of reformatting, the above information is
easier to read,

@example
(make-music 'SequentialMusic
  'elements (list (make-music 'EventChord
                    'elements (list (make-music 'NoteEvent
                                      'duration (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
                                      'pitch (ly:make-pitch 0 0 0))
                                    (make-music 'AbsoluteDynamicEvent
                                      'text "f")))))
@end example

A @code{@{ ... @}} music sequence has the name @code{SequentialMusic},
and its inner expressions are stored as a list in its @code{'elements}
property.  A note is represented as an @code{EventChord} expression,
containing a @code{NoteEvent} object (storing the duration and
pitch properties) and any extra information (in this case, an
@code{AbsoluteDynamicEvent} with a @code{"f"} text property.


@node Music properties
@subsection Music properties

The @code{NoteEvent} object is the first object of the
@code{'elements} property of @code{someNote}.

@example
someNote = c'
\displayMusic \someNote
===>
(make-music
  'EventChord
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'NoteEvent
          'duration
          (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
          'pitch
          (ly:make-pitch 0 0 0))))
@end example

The @code{display-scheme-music} function is the function used by
@code{\displayMusic} to display the Scheme representation of a music
expression.

@example
#(display-scheme-music (first (ly:music-property someNote 'elements)))
===>
(make-music
  'NoteEvent
  'duration
  (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
  'pitch
  (ly:make-pitch 0 0 0))
@end example

Then the note pitch is accessed through the @code{'pitch} property
of the @code{NoteEvent} object,

@example
#(display-scheme-music
   (ly:music-property (first (ly:music-property someNote 'elements))
                      'pitch))
===>
(ly:make-pitch 0 0 0)
@end example

The note pitch can be changed by setting this @code{'pitch} property,

@funindex \displayLilyMusic

@example
#(set! (ly:music-property (first (ly:music-property someNote 'elements))
                          'pitch)
       (ly:make-pitch 0 1 0)) ;; set the pitch to d'.
\displayLilyMusic \someNote
===>
d'
@end example


@node Doubling a note with slurs (example)
@subsection Doubling a note with slurs (example)

Suppose we want to create a function that translates input like
@code{a} into @code{a( a)}.  We begin by examining the internal
representation of the desired result.

@example
\displayMusic@{ a'( a') @}
===>
(make-music
  'SequentialMusic
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'EventChord
          'elements
          (list (make-music
                  'NoteEvent
                  'duration
                  (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
                  'pitch
                  (ly:make-pitch 0 5 0))
                (make-music
                  'SlurEvent
                  'span-direction
                  -1)))
        (make-music
          'EventChord
          'elements
          (list (make-music
                  'NoteEvent
                  'duration
                  (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
                  'pitch
                  (ly:make-pitch 0 5 0))
                (make-music
                  'SlurEvent
                  'span-direction
                  1)))))
@end example

The bad news is that the @code{SlurEvent} expressions
must be added @q{inside} the note (or more precisely,
inside the @code{EventChord} expression).

Now we examine the input,

@example
(make-music
  'SequentialMusic
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'EventChord
          'elements
          (list (make-music
                  'NoteEvent
                  'duration
                  (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
                  'pitch
                  (ly:make-pitch 0 5 0))))))
@end example

So in our function, we need to clone this expression (so that we
have two notes to build the sequence), add @code{SlurEvents} to the
@code{'elements} property of each one, and finally make a
@code{SequentialMusic} with the two @code{EventChords}.

@example
doubleSlur = #(define-music-function (parser location note) (ly:music?)
         "Return: @{ note ( note ) @}.
         `note' is supposed to be an EventChord."
         (let ((note2 (ly:music-deep-copy note)))
           (set! (ly:music-property note 'elements)
                 (cons (make-music 'SlurEvent 'span-direction -1)
                       (ly:music-property note 'elements)))
           (set! (ly:music-property note2 'elements)
                 (cons (make-music 'SlurEvent 'span-direction 1)
                       (ly:music-property note2 'elements)))
           (make-music 'SequentialMusic 'elements (list note note2))))
@end example


@node Adding articulation to notes (example)
@subsection Adding articulation to notes (example)

The easy way to add articulation to notes is to merge two music
expressions into one context, as explained in
@ruser{Creating contexts}.  However, suppose that we want to write
a music function that does this.

A @code{$variable} inside the @code{#@{...#@}} notation is like
a regular @code{\variable} in classical LilyPond notation.  We
know that

@example
@{ \music -. -> @}
@end example

@noindent
will not work in LilyPond.  We could avoid this problem by attaching
the articulation to a fake note,

@example
@{ << \music s1*0-.-> @}
@end example

@noindent
but for the sake of this example, we will learn how to do this in
Scheme.  We begin by examining our input and desired output,

@example
%  input
\displayMusic c4
===>
(make-music
  'EventChord
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'NoteEvent
          'duration
          (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
          'pitch
          (ly:make-pitch -1 0 0))))
=====
%  desired output
\displayMusic c4->
===>
(make-music
  'EventChord
  'elements
  (list (make-music
          'NoteEvent
          'duration
          (ly:make-duration 2 0 1 1)
          'pitch
          (ly:make-pitch -1 0 0))
        (make-music
          'ArticulationEvent
          'articulation-type
          "marcato")))
@end example

We see that a note (@code{c4}) is represented as an @code{EventChord}
expression, with a @code{NoteEvent} expression in its elements list.  To
add a marcato articulation, an @code{ArticulationEvent} expression must
be added to the elements property of the @code{EventChord}
expression.

To build this function, we begin with

@example
(define (add-marcato event-chord)
  "Add a marcato ArticulationEvent to the elements of `event-chord',
  which is supposed to be an EventChord expression."
  (let ((result-event-chord (ly:music-deep-copy event-chord)))
    (set! (ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements)
          (cons (make-music 'ArticulationEvent
                  'articulation-type "marcato")
                (ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements)))
    result-event-chord))
@end example

The first line is the way to define a function in Scheme: the function
name is @code{add-marcato}, and has one variable called
@code{event-chord}.  In Scheme, the type of variable is often clear
from its name.  (this is good practice in other programming languages,
too!)

@example
"Add a marcato..."
@end example

@noindent
is a description of what the function does.  This is not strictly
necessary, but just like clear variable names, it is good practice.

@example
(let ((result-event-chord (ly:music-deep-copy event-chord)))
@end example

@code{let} is used to declare local variables.  Here we use one local
variable, named @code{result-event-chord}, to which we give the value
@code{(ly:music-deep-copy event-chord)}.  @code{ly:music-deep-copy} is
a function specific to LilyPond, like all functions prefixed by
@code{ly:}.  It is use to make a copy of a music
expression.  Here we copy @code{event-chord} (the parameter of the
function).  Recall that our purpose is to add a marcato to an
@code{EventChord} expression.  It is better to not modify the
@code{EventChord} which was given as an argument, because it may be
used elsewhere.

Now we have a @code{result-event-chord}, which is a
@code{NoteEventChord} expression and is a copy of
@code{event-chord}.  We add the marcato to its @code{'elements}
list property.

@example
(set! place new-value)
@end example

Here, what we want to set (the @q{place}) is the @code{'elements}
property of @code{result-event-chord} expression.

@example
(ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements)
@end example

@code{ly:music-property} is the function used to access music properties
(the @code{'elements}, @code{'duration}, @code{'pitch}, etc, that we
see in the @code{\displayMusic} output above).  The new value is the
former @code{'elements} property, with an extra item: the
@code{ArticulationEvent} expression, which we copy from the
@code{\displayMusic} output,

@example
(cons (make-music 'ArticulationEvent
        'articulation-type "marcato")
      (ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements))
@end example

@code{cons} is used to add an element to a list without modifying
the original list.  This is what we want: the same list as before,
plus the new @code{ArticulationEvent} expression.  The order
inside the @code{'elements} property is not important here.

Finally, once we have added the marcato articulation to its @code{elements}
property, we can return @code{result-event-chord}, hence the last line of
the function.

Now we transform the @code{add-marcato} function into a music
function,

@example
addMarcato = #(define-music-function (parser location event-chord)
                                     (ly:music?)
    "Add a marcato ArticulationEvent to the elements of `event-chord',
    which is supposed to be an EventChord expression."
    (let ((result-event-chord (ly:music-deep-copy event-chord)))
      (set! (ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements)
            (cons (make-music 'ArticulationEvent
                    'articulation-type "marcato")
                  (ly:music-property result-event-chord 'elements)))
      result-event-chord))
@end example

We may verify that this music function works correctly,

@example
\displayMusic \addMarcato c4
@end example






@ignore
@menu
* Tweaking with Scheme::
@end menu

@c @node Tweaking with Scheme
@c @section Tweaking with Scheme

We have seen how LilyPond output can be heavily modified using
commands like
@code{\override TextScript #'extra-offset = ( 1 . -1)}.  But
we have even more power if we use Scheme.  For a full explanation
of this, see the @ref{Scheme tutorial}, and
@ref{Interfaces for programmers}.

We can use Scheme to simply @code{\override} commands,

TODO Find a simple example
@c This isn't a valid example with skylining
@c It works fine without padText  -td
@end ignore

@ignore
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
padText = #(define-music-function (parser location padding) (number?)
#{
  \once \override TextScript #'padding = #$padding
#})

\relative c''' {
  c4^"piu mosso" b a b
  \padText #1.8
  c4^"piu mosso" d e f
  \padText #2.6
  c4^"piu mosso" fis a g
}
@end lilypond
@end ignore

@ignore
We can use it to create new commands:

@c Check this is a valid example with skylining
@c It is - 'padding still works


@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
tempoPadded = #(define-music-function (parser location padding tempotext)
  (number? string?)
#{
  \once \override Score.MetronomeMark #'padding = $padding
  \tempo \markup { \bold $tempotext }
#})

\relative c'' {
  \tempo \markup { "Low tempo" }
  c4 d e f g1
  \tempoPadded #4.0 #"High tempo"
  g4 f e d c1
}
@end lilypond


Even music expressions can be passed in:

@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
pattern = #(define-music-function (parser location x y) (ly:music? ly:music?)
#{
  $x e8 a b $y b a e
#})

\relative c''{
  \pattern c8 c8\f
  \pattern {d16 dis} { ais16-> b\p }
}
@end lilypond
@end ignore