+% declarations for standard directions
+left = #-1
+right = #1
+up = #1
+down = #-1
+start = #-1
+stop = #1
+smaller = #-1
+bigger = #1
+center = #0
+
+%% FIXME
+%% should also set \override Beam #'breakable, but how to do it "portably"? (ie. also
+%% working with lyric sections)
+%%
+%% try \once \override Score.Beam #'breakable = ##t
+
+%% rather name \newline, \pageBreak ?
+break = #(make-event-chord (list (make-music 'LineBreakEvent 'break-permission 'force)))
+noBreak = #(make-event-chord (list (make-music 'LineBreakEvent 'break-permission '())))
+%% \pageBreak, \noPageBreak, \pageTurn, \noPageTurn, \allowPageTurn are defined
+%% as music functions
+
+stopStaff = #(make-event-chord (list (make-span-event 'StaffSpanEvent STOP)))
+startStaff = #(make-event-chord (list (make-span-event 'StaffSpanEvent START)))
+
+
+%
+% Code articulation definitions
+%
+noBeam = #(make-music 'BeamForbidEvent)
+pipeSymbol = #(make-music 'BarCheck)
+bracketOpenSymbol = #(make-span-event 'BeamEvent START)
+bracketCloseSymbol = #(make-span-event 'BeamEvent STOP)
+tildeSymbol = #(make-music 'TieEvent)
+parenthesisOpenSymbol = #(make-span-event 'SlurEvent START)
+parenthesisCloseSymbol = #(make-span-event 'SlurEvent STOP)
+escapedExclamationSymbol = #(make-span-event 'CrescendoEvent STOP)
+escapedParenthesisOpenSymbol = #(make-span-event 'PhrasingSlurEvent START)
+escapedParenthesisCloseSymbol = #(make-span-event 'PhrasingSlurEvent STOP)
+escapedBiggerSymbol = #(make-span-event 'DecrescendoEvent START)
+escapedSmallerSymbol = #(make-span-event 'CrescendoEvent START)