+The following items may be present in a @file{.ly} file at toplevel
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item An output definition, such as @code{\bookpaper}, @code{\midi}
+and @code{\paper}. Such a definition at toplevel changes the default
+settings for the block entered.
+
+@item An @code{\header} block. This sets the global header block. This
+is the block containing the definitions for book-wide settings, like
+composer, title, etc.
+
+@item An @code{\addquote} statement. See @ref{Quoting other voices}
+for more information.
+
+@item A @code{\score} block. This score will be collected with other
+toplevel scores, and combined as a single @code{\book}.
+
+This behavior can be changed by setting the variable
+@code{toplevel-score-handler} at toplevel. The default handler is
+defined in the init file @file{scm/lily.scm}.
+
+@item A @code{\book} block formats the block
+
+This behavior can be changed by setting the variable
+@code{toplevel-book-handler} at toplevel. The default handler is
+defined in the init file @file{scm/lily.scm}.
+
+
+@item A compound music expression, such as
+@example
+ @{ c'4 d' e'2 @}
+@end example
+
+This will add the piece in a @code{\score}, and formats it into a
+single book together with all other toplevel @code{\score}s and music
+expressions.
+
+This behavior can be changed by setting the variable
+@code{toplevel-music-handler} at toplevel. The default handler is
+defined in the init file @file{scm/lily.scm}.
+
+@end itemize
+
+The following example shows three things which may be entered at
+toplevel
+@verbatim
+ \paper {
+ % movements are non-justified by default
+ raggedright = ##t
+ }
+
+ \header {
+ title = "Do-re-mi"
+ }
+
+ { c'4 d' e2 }
+@end verbatim
+
+
+At any point in a file, any of the following lexical instructions can
+be entered:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item @code{\version}
+@item @code{\include}
+@item @code{\encoding}
+@item @code{\renameinput}
+@end itemize
+
+
+