+LilyPond functions defined with @code{define-music-function},
+@code{define-event-function}, @code{define-scheme-function} and
+@code{define-void-function} can now be directly called from Scheme
+as if they were genuine Scheme procedures. Argument checking and
+matching will still be performed in the same manner as when
+calling the function through LilyPond input. This includes the
+insertion of defaults for optional arguments not matching their
+predicates. Instead of using @code{\default} in the actual
+argument list for explicitly skipping a sequence of optional
+arguments, @code{*unspecified*} can be employed.
+
+@item
+Current input location and parser are now stored in GUILE fluids
+and can be referenced via the function calls @code{(*location*)}
+and @code{(*parser*)}. Consequently, a lot of functions
+previously taking an explicit @code{parser} argument no longer do
+so.
+
+Functions defined with @code{define-music-function},
+@code{define-event-function}, @code{define-scheme-function} and
+@code{define-void-function} no longer use @code{parser} and
+@code{location} arguments.
+
+With those particular definitions, LilyPond will try to recognize
+legacy use of @code{parser} and @code{location} arguments,
+providing backwards-compatible semantics for some time.
+
+@item
+The @code{whiteout} grob property and @code{\whiteout} markup command
+now create a white background built from multiple displaced copies of
+the glyph in order to approximate the contours of its outline.
+The previous rounded box white background can be achieved with the
+new @code{whiteout-box} grob property and @code{\whiteout-box} markup
+command. Setting the @code{whiteout} property to a number now sets
+the thickness of the white outline as a multiple of staff-line
+thickness. Similarly, overriding the @code{thickness} property of
+the @code{\whiteout} markup command sets the thickness of the white
+outline it produces.
+
+@item
+In the "english" notename language, the long notenames for pitches
+with accidentals now contain a hyphen for better readability. You
+now have to write
+@example
+\key a-flat \major
+@end example
+instead of the previous
+@example
+\key aflat \major
+@end example
+
+Double accidentals do not get another hyphen, so the Dutch
+@code{cisis} has the long English notename @code{c-sharpsharp}.