+#define make_item(x,cause) make_item_from_properties (this, ly_symbol2scm (x), cause)
+#define make_spanner(x,cause) make_spanner_from_properties (this, ly_symbol2scm (x), cause)
+Item* make_item_from_properties (Translator * tg, SCM x, SCM cause);
+Spanner* make_spanner_from_properties (Translator * tg, SCM x, SCM cause);
+