]> git.donarmstrong.com Git - lilypond.git/blobdiff - lily/parser.yy
Merge branch 'translation' into 'master'
[lilypond.git] / lily / parser.yy
index 3fda84232f7c9b928f56cf44bc3063462f5ab33f..79a4b1114f214c70cd8942e8bd6273e1e417a880 100644 (file)
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ deleting them.  Let's hope that a stack overflow doesn't trigger a move
 of the parse stack onto the heap. */
 
 %left PREC_BOT
-%nonassoc REPEAT
+%nonassoc REPEAT REPEAT_IDENTIFIER
 %nonassoc ALTERNATIVE
 
 /* The above precedences tackle the shift/reduce problem
@@ -80,40 +80,24 @@ or
 %nonassoc COMPOSITE
 %left ADDLYRICS
 
- /* ADDLYRICS needs to have lower precedence than argument scanning,
-  * or we won't be able to tell music apart from closed_music without
-  * lookahead in the context of function calls.
-  */
+%right ':' UNSIGNED REAL E_UNSIGNED EVENT_IDENTIFIER EVENT_FUNCTION '^' '_'
+       HYPHEN EXTENDER DURATION_IDENTIFIER
 
-%nonassoc DEFAULT
-
- /* \default is only applied after exhausting function arguments */
-
-%nonassoc FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-
- /* expressions with units are permitted into argument lists */
-
-%right PITCH_IDENTIFIER NOTENAME_PITCH TONICNAME_PITCH
-      UNSIGNED REAL DURATION_IDENTIFIER ':'
-
- /* The above are the symbols that can start optional function arguments
-    that are recognized in the grammar rather than by predicate
+ /* The above are needed for collecting tremoli and other items (that
+    could otherwise be interpreted as belonging to the next function
+    argument) greedily, and together with the next rule will serve to
+    join numbers and units greedily instead of allowing them into
+    separate function arguments
  */
 
-%nonassoc NUMBER_IDENTIFIER '/'
-
- /* Number-unit expressions, where permitted, are concatenated into
-  * function arguments, just like fractions and tremoli.  Tremoli must
-  * not have higher precedence than UNSIGNED, or Lilypond will not
-  * join ':' with a following optional number.
-  */
+%nonassoc NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
 
 %left PREC_TOP
 
 
 
 
-%pure_parser
+%pure-parser
 %locations
 
 
@@ -157,7 +141,7 @@ using namespace std;
 #include "warn.hh"
 
 void
-Lily_parser::parser_error (Input const *i, Lily_parser *parser, SCM *, string s)
+Lily_parser::parser_error (Input const *i, Lily_parser *parser, SCM *, const string &s)
 {
        parser->parser_error (*i, s);
 }
@@ -194,7 +178,9 @@ while (0)
 
 %{
 
-#define MY_MAKE_MUSIC(x, spot)  make_music_with_input (ly_symbol2scm (x), spot)
+#define MY_MAKE_MUSIC(x, spot) \
+       make_music_with_input (ly_symbol2scm (x), \
+                              parser->lexer_->override_input (spot))
 
 /* ES TODO:
 - Don't use lily module, create a new module instead.
@@ -203,12 +189,12 @@ while (0)
 #define LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX(proc, args)       \
   scm_apply_0 (proc, args)
 /* Syntactic Sugar. */
-#define MAKE_SYNTAX(name, location, ...)       \
-  LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (ly_lily_module_constant (name), scm_list_n (parser->self_scm (), make_input (location) , ##__VA_ARGS__, SCM_UNDEFINED))
+#define MAKE_SYNTAX(name, location, ...)                               \
+       LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (ly_lily_module_constant (name), scm_list_n (parser->self_scm (), make_input (parser->lexer_->override_input (location)), ##__VA_ARGS__, SCM_UNDEFINED))
 #define START_MAKE_SYNTAX(name, ...)                                   \
        scm_list_n (ly_lily_module_constant (name) , ##__VA_ARGS__, SCM_UNDEFINED)
 #define FINISH_MAKE_SYNTAX(start, location, ...)                       \
-       LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (scm_car (start), scm_cons2 (parser->self_scm (), make_input (location), scm_append_x (scm_list_2 (scm_cdr (start), scm_list_n (__VA_ARGS__, SCM_UNDEFINED)))))
+       LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (scm_car (start), scm_cons2 (parser->self_scm (), make_input (parser->lexer_->override_input (location)), scm_append_x (scm_list_2 (scm_cdr (start), scm_list_n (__VA_ARGS__, SCM_UNDEFINED)))))
 
 SCM get_next_unique_context_id ();
 SCM get_next_unique_lyrics_context_id ();
@@ -224,14 +210,15 @@ SCM get_next_unique_lyrics_context_id ();
 
 static Music *make_music_with_input (SCM name, Input where);
 SCM check_scheme_arg (Lily_parser *parser, Input loc,
-                     SCM arg, SCM args, SCM pred);
+                     SCM arg, SCM args, SCM pred, SCM disp = SCM_UNDEFINED);
 SCM make_music_from_simple (Lily_parser *parser, Input loc, SCM pitch);
 SCM loc_on_music (Input loc, SCM arg);
 SCM make_chord_elements (Input loc, SCM pitch, SCM dur, SCM modification_list);
 SCM make_chord_step (SCM step, Rational alter);
 SCM make_simple_markup (SCM a);
-bool is_duration (int t);
-bool is_regular_identifier (SCM id);
+SCM make_duration (SCM t, int dots = 0);
+bool is_regular_identifier (SCM id, bool multiple=false);
+SCM try_string_variants (SCM pred, SCM str);
 int yylex (YYSTYPE *s, YYLTYPE *loc, Lily_parser *parser);
 
 %}
@@ -282,6 +269,7 @@ int yylex (YYSTYPE *s, YYLTYPE *loc, Lily_parser *parser);
 %token REST "\\rest"
 %token REVERT "\\revert"
 %token SCORE "\\score"
+%token SCORELINES "\\score-lines"
 %token SEQUENTIAL "\\sequential"
 %token SET "\\set"
 %token SIMULTANEOUS "\\simultaneous"
@@ -306,16 +294,8 @@ int yylex (YYSTYPE *s, YYLTYPE *loc, Lily_parser *parser);
 %token DOUBLE_ANGLE_OPEN "<<"
 %token DOUBLE_ANGLE_CLOSE ">>"
 %token E_BACKSLASH "\\"
-%token E_ANGLE_CLOSE "\\>"
-%token E_CHAR "\\C[haracter]"
-%token E_CLOSE "\\)"
 %token E_EXCLAMATION "\\!"
-%token E_BRACKET_OPEN "\\["
-%token E_OPEN "\\("
-%token E_BRACKET_CLOSE "\\]"
-%token E_ANGLE_OPEN "\\<"
 %token E_PLUS "\\+"
-%token E_TILDE "\\~"
 %token EXTENDER "__"
 
 /*
@@ -326,8 +306,6 @@ If we give names, Bison complains.
 %token FIGURE_SPACE "_"
 %token HYPHEN "--"
 
-%token CHORDMODIFIERS
-%token LYRIC_MARKUP
 %token MULTI_MEASURE_REST
 
 
@@ -336,8 +314,6 @@ If we give names, Bison complains.
 
 /* Artificial tokens, for more generic function syntax */
 %token EXPECT_MARKUP "markup?"
-%token EXPECT_PITCH "ly:pitch?"
-%token EXPECT_DURATION "ly:duration?"
 %token EXPECT_SCM "scheme?"
 %token BACKUP "(backed-up?)"
 %token REPARSE "(reparsed?)"
@@ -350,18 +326,18 @@ If we give names, Bison complains.
 %token EMBEDDED_LILY "#{"
 
 %token BOOK_IDENTIFIER
-%token CHORDMODIFIER_PITCH
+%token CHORD_BODY_IDENTIFIER
 %token CHORD_MODIFIER
 %token CHORD_REPETITION
 %token CONTEXT_DEF_IDENTIFIER
 %token CONTEXT_MOD_IDENTIFIER
 %token DRUM_PITCH
 %token PITCH_IDENTIFIER
+%token PITCH_ARG
 %token DURATION_IDENTIFIER
 %token EVENT_IDENTIFIER
 %token EVENT_FUNCTION
 %token FRACTION
-%token LYRICS_STRING
 %token LYRIC_ELEMENT
 %token MARKUP_FUNCTION
 %token MARKUP_LIST_FUNCTION
@@ -373,12 +349,14 @@ If we give names, Bison complains.
 %token NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
 %token OUTPUT_DEF_IDENTIFIER
 %token REAL
+%token REPEAT_IDENTIFIER
 %token RESTNAME
+%token SCM_ARG
 %token SCM_FUNCTION
 %token SCM_IDENTIFIER
 %token SCM_TOKEN
-%token SCORE_IDENTIFIER
 %token STRING
+%token SYMBOL_LIST
 %token TONICNAME_PITCH
 
 %left '-' '+'
@@ -492,9 +470,12 @@ embedded_scm_active:
        ;
 
 embedded_scm_bare_arg:
-       embedded_scm_bare
-       | STRING
-       | full_markup
+       SCM_ARG
+       | SCM_TOKEN
+       {
+               $$ = parser->lexer_->eval_scm_token ($1);
+       }
+       | FRACTION
        | full_markup_list
        | context_modification
        | score_block
@@ -511,10 +492,19 @@ embedded_scm:
        | scm_function_call
        ;
 
+/* embedded_scm_arg is _not_ casting pitches to music by default, this
+ * has to be done by the function itself.  Note that this may cause
+ * the results of scm_function_call or embedded_scm_bare_arg to be
+ * turned into music from pitches as well.  Note that this creates a
+ * distinctly awkward situation for calculated drum pitches.  Those
+ * are at the current point of time rejected as music constituents as
+ * they can't be distinguished from "proper" symbols.
+ */
+
 embedded_scm_arg:
        embedded_scm_bare_arg
        | scm_function_call
-       | music_arg
+       | music_assign
        ;
 
 scm_function_call:
@@ -524,12 +514,52 @@ scm_function_call:
        }
        ;
 
+embedded_lilypond_number:
+       '-' embedded_lilypond_number
+       {
+               $$ = scm_difference ($2, SCM_UNDEFINED);
+       }
+       | bare_number_common
+       | UNSIGNED NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               $$ = scm_product ($1, $2);
+       }
+       ;
+
 embedded_lilypond:
        /* empty */
        {
+               // FIXME: @$ does not contain a useful source location
+               // for empty rules, and the only token in the whole
+               // production, EMBEDDED_LILY, is synthetic and also
+               // contains no source location.
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("void-music", @$);
        }
-       | identifier_init
+       | identifier_init_nonumber
+       | embedded_lilypond_number
+       | post_event post_events
+       {
+               $$ = scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL);
+               if (Music *m = unsmob_music ($1))
+               {
+                       if (m->is_mus_type ("post-event-wrapper"))
+                               $$ = scm_append
+                                       (scm_list_2 (m->get_property ("elements"),
+                                                    $$));
+                       else
+                               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $$);
+               }
+               if (scm_is_pair ($$)
+                   && scm_is_null (scm_cdr ($$)))
+                       $$ = scm_car ($$);
+               else
+               {
+                       Music * m = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("PostEvents", @$);
+                       m->set_property ("elements", $$);
+                       $$ = m->unprotect ();
+               }
+       }
+       | multiplied_duration
        | music_embedded music_embedded music_list {
                $3 = scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL);
                if (unsmob_music ($2))
@@ -570,7 +600,6 @@ lilypond_header:
 */
 assignment_id:
        STRING          { $$ = $1; }
-       | LYRICS_STRING { $$ = $1; }
        ;
 
 assignment:
@@ -587,14 +616,39 @@ assignment:
 
 
 identifier_init:
+       identifier_init_nonumber
+       | number_expression
+       | post_event_nofinger post_events
+       {
+               $$ = scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL);
+               if (Music *m = unsmob_music ($1))
+               {
+                       if (m->is_mus_type ("post-event-wrapper"))
+                               $$ = scm_append
+                                       (scm_list_2 (m->get_property ("elements"),
+                                                    $$));
+                       else
+                               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $$);
+               }
+               if (scm_is_pair ($$)
+                   && scm_is_null (scm_cdr ($$)))
+                       $$ = scm_car ($$);
+               else
+               {
+                       Music * m = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("PostEvents", @$);
+                       m->set_property ("elements", $$);
+                       $$ = m->unprotect ();
+               }
+       }
+       ;
+
+identifier_init_nonumber:
        score_block
        | book_block
        | bookpart_block
        | output_def
        | context_def_spec_block
        | music_assign
-       | post_event_nofinger
-       | number_expression
        | FRACTION
        | string
         | embedded_scm
@@ -606,12 +660,22 @@ context_def_spec_block:
        CONTEXT '{' context_def_spec_body '}'
                {
                $$ = $3;
+               unsmob_context_def ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
        }
        ;
 
 context_mod_arg:
        embedded_scm
-       | composite_music
+       |
+       {
+               SCM nn = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("pitchnames");
+               parser->lexer_->push_note_state (nn);
+       }
+       composite_music
+       {
+               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
+               $$ = $2;
+       }
        ;
 
 context_mod_embedded:
@@ -625,6 +689,7 @@ context_mod_embedded:
                        $$ = $1;
                else {
                        parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("not a context mod"));
+                       $$ = Context_mod ().smobbed_copy ();
                }
        }
        ;
@@ -633,14 +698,13 @@ context_mod_embedded:
 context_def_spec_body:
        /**/ {
                $$ = Context_def::make_scm ();
-               unsmob_context_def ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
        }
        | CONTEXT_DEF_IDENTIFIER {
                $$ = $1;
-               unsmob_context_def ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
        }
        | context_def_spec_body context_mod {
-               unsmob_context_def ($$)->add_context_mod ($2);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       unsmob_context_def ($$)->add_context_mod ($2);
        }
        | context_def_spec_body context_modification {
                 Context_def *td = unsmob_context_def ($$);
@@ -663,6 +727,7 @@ context_def_spec_body:
 book_block:
        BOOK '{' book_body '}'  {
                $$ = $3;
+               unsmob_book ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                pop_paper (parser);
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-book"), SCM_BOOL_F);
        }
@@ -675,7 +740,6 @@ book_body:
        {
                Book *book = new Book;
                init_papers (parser);
-               book->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                book->paper_ = dynamic_cast<Output_def*> (unsmob_output_def (parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("$defaultpaper"))->clone ());
                book->paper_->unprotect ();
                push_paper (parser, book->paper_);
@@ -684,7 +748,6 @@ book_body:
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-book"), $$);
        }
        | BOOK_IDENTIFIER {
-               unsmob_book ($1)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-book"), $1);
        }
        | book_body paper_block {
@@ -744,6 +807,7 @@ book_body:
 bookpart_block:
        BOOKPART '{' bookpart_body '}' {
                $$ = $3;
+               unsmob_book ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-bookpart"), SCM_BOOL_F);
        }
        ;
@@ -751,12 +815,10 @@ bookpart_block:
 bookpart_body:
        {
                Book *book = new Book;
-               book->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                 $$ = book->unprotect ();
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-bookpart"), $$);
        }
        | BOOK_IDENTIFIER {
-               unsmob_book ($1)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
                parser->lexer_->set_identifier (ly_symbol2scm ("$current-bookpart"), $1);
        }
        | bookpart_body paper_block {
@@ -823,8 +885,16 @@ score_body:
 
                unsmob_score ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
        }
-       | SCORE_IDENTIFIER {
+       | embedded_scm_active {
+               Score *score;
+               if (unsmob_score ($1))
+                       score = new Score (*unsmob_score ($1));
+               else {
+                       score = new Score;
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _("score expected"));
+               }
                unsmob_score ($$)->origin ()->set_spot (@$);
+               $$ = score->unprotect ();
        }
        | score_body
        {
@@ -911,16 +981,7 @@ output_def_head_with_mode_switch:
 
 music_or_context_def:
        music_arg
-       {
-               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
-       }
-       | CONTEXT
-       {
-               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
-       } '{' context_def_spec_body '}'
-       {
-               $$ = $4;
-       }
+       | context_def_spec_block
        ;
 
 output_def_body:
@@ -947,6 +1008,7 @@ output_def_body:
                parser->lexer_->push_note_state (nn);
        } music_or_context_def
        {
+               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
                if (unsmob_context_def ($3))
                        assign_context_def (unsmob_output_def ($1), $3);
                else {
@@ -966,12 +1028,12 @@ tempo_event:
        TEMPO steno_duration '=' tempo_range    {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("tempo", @$, SCM_EOL, $2, $4);
        }
-       | TEMPO scalar_closed steno_duration '=' tempo_range    {
+       | TEMPO scalar steno_duration '=' tempo_range   {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("tempo", @$, $2, $3, $5);
        }
        | TEMPO scalar {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("tempo", @$, $2);
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        ;
 
 /*
@@ -1007,15 +1069,52 @@ music:  music_arg
 
 music_embedded:
        music
-       | embedded_scm
        {
-               if (unsmob_music ($1)
-                   || scm_is_eq ($1, SCM_UNSPECIFIED))
+               if (unsmob_music ($1)->is_mus_type ("post-event")) {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("unexpected post-event"));
+                       $$ = SCM_UNSPECIFIED;
+               }
+       }
+       | music_embedded_backup
+       {
+               $$ = $1;
+       }
+       | music_embedded_backup BACKUP lyric_element_music
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
+       }
+       | multiplied_duration post_events
+       {
+               Music *n = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("NoteEvent", @$);
+
+               parser->default_duration_ = *unsmob_duration ($1);
+               n->set_property ("duration", $1);
+
+               if (scm_is_pair ($2))
+                       n->set_property ("articulations",
+                                        scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL));
+               $$ = n->unprotect ();
+       }
+       ;
+
+music_embedded_backup:
+       embedded_scm
+       {
+               if (scm_is_eq ($1, SCM_UNSPECIFIED))
                        $$ = $1;
-               else
-               {
+               else if (Music *m = unsmob_music ($1)) {
+                       if (m->is_mus_type ("post-event")) {
+                               parser->parser_error
+                                       (@1, _ ("unexpected post-event"));
+                               $$ = SCM_UNSPECIFIED;
+                       } else
+                               $$ = $1;
+               } else if (parser->lexer_->is_lyric_state ()
+                          && Text_interface::is_markup ($1))
+                       MYBACKUP (LYRIC_ELEMENT, $1, @1);
+               else {
                        @$.warning (_ ("Ignoring non-music expression"));
-                       $$ = SCM_UNSPECIFIED;
+                       $$ = $1;
                }
        }
        ;
@@ -1025,7 +1124,10 @@ music_arg:
        {
                $$ = make_music_from_simple (parser, @1, $1);
                 if (!unsmob_music ($$))
+               {
                         parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("music expected"));
+                       $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("void-music", @$);
+               }
        }
        | composite_music %prec COMPOSITE
        ;
@@ -1040,10 +1142,20 @@ repeated_music:
        {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repeat", @$, $2, $3, $4, SCM_EOL);
        }
+       | REPEAT_IDENTIFIER music
+       {
+               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repeat", @$, scm_car ($1), scm_cdr ($1),
+                                 $2, SCM_EOL);
+       }
        | REPEAT simple_string unsigned_number music ALTERNATIVE braced_music_list
        {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repeat", @$, $2, $3, $4, $6);
        }
+       | REPEAT_IDENTIFIER music ALTERNATIVE braced_music_list
+       {
+               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repeat", @$, scm_car ($1), scm_cdr ($1),
+                                 $2, $4);
+       }
        ;
 
 sequential_music:
@@ -1071,7 +1183,11 @@ simple_music:
        ;
 
 context_modification:
-        WITH { parser->lexer_->push_initial_state (); } '{' context_mod_list '}'
+        WITH
+       {
+               SCM nn = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("pitchnames");
+               parser->lexer_->push_note_state (nn);
+       } '{' context_mod_list '}'
         {
                 parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
                 $$ = $4;
@@ -1084,8 +1200,12 @@ context_modification:
         {
                 $$ = $1;
         }
-       | WITH embedded_scm_closed
+       | WITH context_modification_arg
        {
+               if (unsmob_music ($2)) {
+                       SCM proc = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("context-mod-music-handler");
+                       $2 = scm_call_2 (proc, parser->self_scm (), $2);
+               }
                if (unsmob_context_mod ($2))
                        $$ = $2;
                else {
@@ -1095,6 +1215,11 @@ context_modification:
        }
         ;
 
+context_modification_arg:
+       embedded_scm_closed
+       | MUSIC_IDENTIFIER
+       ;
+
 optional_context_mod:
         /**/ {
             $$ = SCM_EOL;
@@ -1110,7 +1235,8 @@ context_mod_list:
             $$ = Context_mod ().smobbed_copy ();
         }
         | context_mod_list context_mod  {
-                 unsmob_context_mod ($1)->add_context_mod ($2);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       unsmob_context_mod ($1)->add_context_mod ($2);
         }
         | context_mod_list CONTEXT_MOD_IDENTIFIER {
                  Context_mod *md = unsmob_context_mod ($2);
@@ -1149,43 +1275,72 @@ grouped_music_list:
        | sequential_music              { $$ = $1; }
        ;
 
-/* An argument list. If a function \foo expects scm scm pitch, then the lexer expands \foo into the token sequence:
- MUSIC_FUNCTION EXPECT_PITCH EXPECT_SCM EXPECT_SCM EXPECT_NO_MORE_ARGS
-and this rule returns the reversed list of arguments. */
-
-function_arglist_skip:
-       function_arglist_common
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_skip
-       {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       } %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_skip
-       {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       } %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip
-       {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       } %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       ;
-
+/* Function argument lists are arguably the most complex part in the
+ * parser.  They are pretty tricky to understand because of the way
+ * they are processed, and because of optional arguments that can be
+ * omitted.  When there are several optional arguments in a row,
+ * omitting one automatically omits all following arguments.  Optional
+ * arguments can only be omitted when either
+ *
+ * a) the omission is explicitly started with \default
+ * b) the omission is implicitly started by an argument not matching
+ *    its predicate, and there is a mandatory argument later that can
+ *    "catch" the argument that does not fit.
+ *
+ * When argument parsing starts, the lexer pushes EXPECT_SCM tokens
+ * (corresponding to mandatory arguments and having a predicate
+ * function as semantic value) or EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM (where
+ * the semantic value of the EXPECT_OPTIONAL token is the default to
+ * use when the optional argument is omitted, and EXPECT_SCM again has
+ * the argument predicate as semantic value) in reverse order to the
+ * parser, followed by EXPECT_NO_MORE_ARGS.  The argument list is then
+ * processed inside-out while actual tokens are consumed.
+ *
+ * This means that the argument list tokens determine the actions
+ * taken as they arrive.  The structure of the argument list is known
+ * to the parser and stored in its parse stack when the first argument
+ * is being parsed.  What the parser does not know is which predicates
+ * will match and whether or not \default will be appearing in the
+ * argument list, and where.
+ *
+ * Many of the basic nonterminals used for argument list scanning come
+ * in a "normal" and a "closed" flavor.  A closed expression is one
+ * that can be parsed without a lookahead token.  That makes it
+ * feasible for an optional argument that may need to be skipped:
+ * skipping can only be accomplished by pushing back the token into
+ * the lexer, and that only works when there is no lookahead token.
+ *
+ * Sequences of 0 or more optional arguments are scanned using either
+ * function_arglist_backup or function_arglist_nonbackup.  The first
+ * is used when optional arguments are followed by at least one
+ * mandatory argument: in that case optional arguments may be skipped
+ * by either a false predicate (in which case the expression will be
+ * pushed back as one or more tokens, preceded by a BACKUP token) or
+ * by using \default.
+ *
+ * If optional arguments are at the end of the argument list, they are
+ * instead scanned using function_arglist_nonbackup: here the only
+ * manner to enter into skipping of optional arguments is the use of
+ * \default.
+ *
+ * The argument list of a normal function call is parsed using
+ * function_arglist.  The part of an argument list before a mandatory
+ * argument is parsed using function_arglist_optional.
+ *
+ * The difference is that leading optional arguments are scanned using
+ * function_arglist_nonbackup and function_arglist_backup,
+ * respectively.
+ *
+ * Most other details are obvious in the rules themselves.
+ *
+ */
 
 function_arglist_nonbackup_common:
-       EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist pitch_also_in_chords {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_closed duration_length {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist FRACTION
+       EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup post_event_nofinger
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed post_event_nofinger
-       {
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed '-' UNSIGNED
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup '-' UNSIGNED
        {
                SCM n = scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED);
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, n)))
@@ -1193,21 +1348,18 @@ function_arglist_nonbackup_common:
                else {
                        Music *t = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("FingeringEvent", @5);
                        t->set_property ("digit", $5);
-                       $$ = t->unprotect ();
-                       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $$)))
-                               $$ = scm_cons ($$, $3);
-                       else
-                               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, n, $3, $2);
+                       $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, t->unprotect (),
+                                              $3, $2, n);
                }
                
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed '-' REAL
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup '-' REAL
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4,
                                       scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED),
                                       $3, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4,
                                       scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED),
@@ -1217,50 +1369,221 @@ function_arglist_nonbackup_common:
 
 function_arglist_closed_nonbackup:
        function_arglist_nonbackup_common
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist embedded_scm_arg_closed
+       | function_arglist_closed_common
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup embedded_scm_arg_closed
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup bare_number_closed
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed bare_number_closed
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup SCM_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4,
+                                      try_string_variants ($2, $4),
+                                      $3, $2, $4);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup STRING
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4,
+                                      try_string_variants ($2, $4),
+                                      $3, $2, $4);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup full_markup
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
        }
        ;
 
+symbol_list_arg:
+       SYMBOL_LIST
+       | SYMBOL_LIST '.' symbol_list_rev
+       {
+               $$ = scm_append (scm_list_2 ($1, scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL)));
+       }
+       ;
+
+symbol_list_rev:
+       symbol_list_part
+       | symbol_list_rev '.' symbol_list_part
+       {
+               $$ = scm_append_x (scm_list_2 ($3, $1));
+       }
+       ;
+
+// symbol_list_part delivers elements in reverse copy.
+
+symbol_list_part:
+       symbol_list_element
+       {
+               SCM sym_l_p = ly_lily_module_constant ("symbol-list?");
+               $$ = try_string_variants (sym_l_p, $1);
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($$)) {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _("not a symbol"));
+                       $$ = SCM_EOL;
+               } else
+                       $$ = scm_reverse ($$);
+       }
+       ;
+
+
+symbol_list_element:
+       STRING
+       | embedded_scm_bare
+       ;
+
+
 function_arglist_nonbackup:
        function_arglist_nonbackup_common
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist embedded_scm_arg
+       | function_arglist_common
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup embedded_scm_arg
        {
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+                       $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
+               else
+                       $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4,
+                                              make_music_from_simple
+                                              (parser, @4, $4),
+                                              $3, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed bare_number
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup bare_number_common
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, $4, $3, $2);
        }
+       | function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse REPARSE duration_length
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse REPARSE bare_number_common
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse REPARSE SCM_ARG
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse REPARSE lyric_element_music
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse REPARSE symbol_list_arg
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
        ;
 
-function_arglist_keep:
-       function_arglist_common
-       | function_arglist_backup
+function_arglist_nonbackup_reparse:
+       EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup SCM_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($2, $4);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res))
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, res);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($2, make_music_from_simple
+                          (parser, @4, $4))))
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, STRING, $4);
+               else
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, $4);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup STRING
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($2, $4);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res))
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, res);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($2, make_music_from_simple
+                          (parser, @4, $4))))
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, STRING, $4);
+               else
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, $4);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup full_markup
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, $4);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($2, make_music_from_simple
+                          (parser, @4, $4))))
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, STRING, $4);
+               else
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SCM_ARG, $4);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup UNSIGNED
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, REAL, $4);
+               else {
+                       SCM d = make_duration ($4);
+                       if (SCM_UNBNDP (d) || scm_is_false (scm_call_1 ($2, d)))
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, REAL, $4); // trigger error
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, d);
+               }
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_nonbackup DURATION_IDENTIFIER {
+               $$ = $3;
+               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, $4);
+       }
        ;
 
-function_arglist_closed_keep:
-       function_arglist_closed_common
-       | function_arglist_backup
-       ;
 
+// function_arglist_backup can't occur at the end of an argument
+// list.  It needs to be careful about avoiding lookahead only until
+// it has made a decision whether or not to accept the parsed entity.
+// At that point of time, music requiring lookahead to parse becomes
+// fine.
 function_arglist_backup:
-       EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_keep embedded_scm_arg_closed
+       function_arglist_common
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup embedded_scm_arg_closed
        {
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                {
                        $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
                } else {
                        $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
-                       MYBACKUP (SCM_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
+                       MYBACKUP (SCM_ARG, $4, @4);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep post_event_nofinger
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup REPEAT simple_string unsigned_number
+       {
+               $4 = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repeat", @4, $5, $6,
+                                 MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("Music", @4)->unprotect (),
+                                 SCM_EOL);
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       $$ = $3;
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, REPEAT_IDENTIFIER, scm_cons ($5, $6));
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (REPEAT_IDENTIFIER, scm_cons ($5, $6), @4);
+               }
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup chord_body
+       {
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       $$ = $3;
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, CHORD_BODY_IDENTIFIER, $4);
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (CHORD_BODY_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
+               }
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup post_event_nofinger
        {
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                {
@@ -1270,35 +1593,34 @@ function_arglist_backup:
                        MYBACKUP (EVENT_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_keep lyric_element
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup full_markup
        {
-               // There is no point interpreting a lyrics string as
-               // an event, since we don't allow music possibly
-               // followed by durations or postevent into closed
-               // music, and we only accept closed music in optional
-               // arguments at the moment.  If this changes, more
-               // complex schemes might become interesting here as
-               // well: see how we do this at the mandatory argument
-               // point.
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                        $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
                else {
                        $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
-                       MYBACKUP (LYRICS_STRING, $4, @4);
+                       MYBACKUP (LYRIC_ELEMENT, $4, @4);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep UNSIGNED
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup UNSIGNED
        {
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, REAL, $4);
                        $$ = $3;
-                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, UNSIGNED, $4);
                } else {
-                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
-                       MYBACKUP (UNSIGNED, $4, @4);
+                       SCM d = make_duration ($4);
+                       if (SCM_UNBNDP (d) || scm_is_false (scm_call_1 ($2, d)))
+                       {
+                               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                               MYBACKUP (UNSIGNED, $4, @4);
+                       } else {
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, d);
+                               $$ = $3;
+                       }
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep REAL
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup REAL
        {
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                {
@@ -1309,7 +1631,7 @@ function_arglist_backup:
                        MYBACKUP (REAL, $4, @4);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
        {
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
                {
@@ -1319,17 +1641,7 @@ function_arglist_backup:
                        MYBACKUP (NUMBER_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_keep FRACTION
-       {
-               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
-               {
-                       $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
-               } else {
-                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
-                       MYBACKUP (FRACTION, $4, @4);
-               }
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep '-' UNSIGNED
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup '-' UNSIGNED
        {
                SCM n = scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED);
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, n))) {
@@ -1349,241 +1661,375 @@ function_arglist_backup:
                }
                
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep '-' REAL
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup '-' REAL
        {
                SCM n = scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED);
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, n))) {
                        MYREPARSE (@5, $2, REAL, n);
                        $$ = $3;
                } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
                        MYBACKUP (REAL, n, @5);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_keep '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
        {
                SCM n = scm_difference ($5, SCM_UNDEFINED);
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, n))) {
                        $$ = scm_cons (n, $3);
                } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
                        MYBACKUP (NUMBER_IDENTIFIER, n, @5);
                }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_keep pitch_also_in_chords
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup PITCH_IDENTIFIER
        {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
+               SCM m = make_music_from_simple (parser, @4, $4);
+               if (unsmob_music (m) && scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, m)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, PITCH_IDENTIFIER, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, PITCH_ARG, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (PITCH_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
+               }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_closed_keep duration_length
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup NOTENAME_PITCH
        {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($4, $3);
+               SCM m = make_music_from_simple (parser, @4, $4);
+               if (unsmob_music (m) && scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, m)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, NOTENAME_PITCH, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, PITCH_ARG, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (NOTENAME_PITCH, $4, @4);
+               }
        }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup BACKUP
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup TONICNAME_PITCH
        {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-               MYBACKUP(0, SCM_UNDEFINED, @3);
+               SCM m = make_music_from_simple (parser, @4, $4);
+               if (unsmob_music (m) && scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, m)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, TONICNAME_PITCH, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, PITCH_ARG, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (TONICNAME_PITCH, $4, @4);
+               }
        }
-       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE embedded_scm_arg_closed
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup DURATION_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $4)))
+               {
+                       MYREPARSE (@4, $2, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, $4);
+                       $$ = $3;
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (DURATION_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
+               }
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup SCM_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($2, $4);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res)) {
+                               $$ = $3;
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       }
+                       else
+                               $$ = scm_cons (res, $3);
+               else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (SCM_IDENTIFIER, $4, @4);
+               }
+       }
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_backup STRING
+       {
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($2, $4);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res)) {
+                               $$ = $3;
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $2, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       }
+                       else
+                               $$ = scm_cons (res, $3);
+               else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+                       MYBACKUP (STRING, $4, @4);
+               }
+       }
+       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE music_assign
+       {
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($2, $3)))
+                       $$ = scm_cons ($3, $1);
+               else
+                       $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
+                                              make_music_from_simple
+                                              (parser, @3, $3),
+                                              $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE pitch_arg
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
+       }               
+       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE bare_number_common
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $1, $2);
        }
-       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE bare_number
+       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE duration_length
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $1, $2);
        }
+       | function_arglist_backup REPARSE symbol_list_arg
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
+       }
        ;
 
 function_arglist:
-       function_arglist_common
-       | function_arglist_nonbackup
+       function_arglist_nonbackup
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip_nonbackup DEFAULT
+       {
+               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@4, $1), $3);
+       }
+       ;
+
+function_arglist_skip_nonbackup:
+       function_arglist_nonbackup
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip_nonbackup
+       {
+               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
+       }
        ;
 
 function_arglist_common:
-       function_arglist_bare
+       EXPECT_NO_MORE_ARGS {
+               $$ = SCM_EOL;
+       }
        | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional embedded_scm_arg
+       {
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, $3)))
+                       $$ = scm_cons ($3, $2);
+               else
+                       $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
+                                              make_music_from_simple
+                                              (parser, @3, $3),
+                                              $2, $1);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional bare_number_common
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional bare_number
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional post_event_nofinger
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional FRACTION
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               SCM n = scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED);
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, n, $2, $1);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE SCM_ARG
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $2, $1);
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional post_event_nofinger
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE lyric_element_music
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $2, $1);
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE bare_number_common
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE duration_length
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
+       }
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE symbol_list_arg
+       {
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
        }
-       | function_arglist_common_minus
-       | function_arglist_common_lyric
        ;
 
-function_arglist_common_lyric:
-       EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional lyric_element
+function_arglist_common_reparse:
+       EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional SCM_IDENTIFIER
        {
-               // We check how the predicate thinks about a lyrics
-               // event or about a markup.  If it accepts neither, we
-               // backup the original token.  Otherwise we commit to
-               // taking the token.  Depending on what the predicate
-               // is willing to accept, we interpret as a string, as
-               // a lyric event, or ambiguously (meaning that if
-               // something looking like a duration or post event
-               // follows, we take the event, otherwise the string).
-               SCM lyric_event = MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", @3, $3,
-                                              parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
+               $$ = $2;
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($1, $3);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res))
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, res);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($1, make_music_from_simple (parser, @3, $3))))
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, LYRIC_ELEMENT, $3);
+               else
+                       // This is going to flag a syntax error, we
+                       // know the predicate to be false.
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, $3);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional STRING
+       {
+               $$ = $2;
+               SCM res = try_string_variants ($1, $3);
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP (res))
+                       if (scm_is_pair (res))
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SYMBOL_LIST, res);
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, res);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($1, make_music_from_simple (parser, @3, $3))))
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, LYRIC_ELEMENT, $3);
+               else
+                       // This is going to flag a syntax error, we
+                       // know the predicate to be false.
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, $3);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional full_markup
+       {
+               $$ = $2;
                if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, $3)))
-                       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, lyric_event)))
-                       {
-                               $$ = $2;
-                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, LYRICS_STRING, $3);
-                       } else {
-                               $$ = scm_cons ($3, $2);
-                       }
-               else if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, lyric_event)))
-               {
-                       $$ = $2;
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, $3);
+               else if (scm_is_true
+                        (scm_call_1
+                         ($1, make_music_from_simple (parser, @3, $3))))
                        MYREPARSE (@3, $1, LYRIC_ELEMENT, $3);
-               } else {
+               else
                        // This is going to flag a syntax error, we
                        // know the predicate to be false.
-                       check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                         $3, $2, $1);
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, SCM_ARG, $3);
+       }
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional UNSIGNED
+       {
+               $$ = $2;
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, $3)))
+                       MYREPARSE (@3, $1, REAL, $3);
+               else {
+                       SCM d = make_duration ($3);
+                       if (SCM_UNBNDP (d) || scm_is_false (scm_call_1 ($1, d)))
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, REAL, $3);
+                       else
+                               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, d);
                }
        }
-       | function_arglist_common_lyric REPARSE lyric_element_arg
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional DURATION_IDENTIFIER
        {
-               // This should never be false
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $1, $2);
+               $$ = $2;
+               MYREPARSE (@3, $1, DURATION_IDENTIFIER, $3);
        }
-       ;
-
-function_arglist_common_minus:
-       EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' UNSIGNED
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional '-' UNSIGNED
        {
+               $$ = $2;
                SCM n = scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED);
-               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, n))) {
-                       $$ = $2;
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, n)))
                        MYREPARSE (@4, $1, REAL, n);
-               else {
+               else {
                        Music *t = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("FingeringEvent", @4);
                        t->set_property ("digit", $4);
-                       $$ = t->unprotect ();
-                       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, $$)))
-                               $$ = scm_cons ($$, $2);
+                       SCM m = t->unprotect ();
+                       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, m)))
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $1, SCM_ARG, m);
                        else
-                               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, n, $2, $1);
+                               MYREPARSE (@4, $1, SCM_ARG, $4);
                }
                
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' REAL
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional '-' REAL
        {
                $$ = $2;
                SCM n = scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED);
                MYREPARSE (@4, $1, REAL, n);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
-       {
-               SCM n = scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED);
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @4, n, $2, $1);
-       }
-       | function_arglist_common_minus REPARSE bare_number
-       {
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
-       }
        ;
 
 function_arglist_closed:
-       function_arglist_closed_common
-       | function_arglist_closed_nonbackup
+       function_arglist_closed_nonbackup
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip_nonbackup DEFAULT
+       {
+               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@4, $1), $3);
+       }
        ;
 
 function_arglist_closed_common:
-       function_arglist_bare
+       EXPECT_NO_MORE_ARGS {
+               $$ = SCM_EOL;
+       }
        | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional embedded_scm_arg_closed
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional bare_number
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional bare_number_common_closed
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       $3, $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' UNSIGNED
-       {
-               SCM n = scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED);
-               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, n))) {
-                       $$ = scm_cons (n, $2);
-               } else {
-                       Music *t = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("FingeringEvent", @4);
-                       t->set_property ("digit", $4);
-                       $$ = t->unprotect ();
-                       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 ($1, $$)))
-                               $$ = scm_cons ($$, $2);
-                       else
-                               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, n, $2, $1);
-               }
-               
-       }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' REAL
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
                                       scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED),
                                       $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional '-' NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional post_event_nofinger
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      scm_difference ($4, SCM_UNDEFINED),
-                                      $2, $1);
+                                      $3, $2, $1);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_closed_optional post_event_nofinger
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE SCM_ARG
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $2, $1);
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional FRACTION
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE bare_number_common_closed
        {
                $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $2, $1);
+                                      $3, $1, $2);
        }
-       | EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_optional lyric_element
+       | function_arglist_common_reparse REPARSE symbol_list_arg
        {
-               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3,
-                                      $3, $2, $1);
+               $$ = check_scheme_arg (parser, @3, $3, $1, $2);
        }
        ;
 
 function_arglist_optional:
-       function_arglist_keep %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       | function_arglist_backup BACKUP
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_optional
+       function_arglist_backup
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip_backup DEFAULT
        {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_optional
-       {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
+               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@4, $1), $3);
        }
+       | function_arglist_skip_backup BACKUP
        ;
 
-function_arglist_closed_optional:
-       function_arglist_closed_keep %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       | function_arglist_backup BACKUP
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_closed_optional
+function_arglist_skip_backup:
+       function_arglist_backup
+       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip_backup
        {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_closed_optional
-       {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
+               $$ = scm_cons (loc_on_music (@3, $1), $3);
        }
        ;
 
@@ -1596,33 +2042,12 @@ embedded_scm_arg_closed:
        embedded_scm_bare_arg
        | scm_function_call_closed
        | closed_music
-       ;
-
-scm_function_call_closed:
-       SCM_FUNCTION function_arglist_closed {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("music-function", @$,
-                                        $1, $2);
-       } %prec FUNCTION_ARGLIST
-       ;
-
-function_arglist_bare:
-       EXPECT_NO_MORE_ARGS {
-               $$ = SCM_EOL;
-       }
-       | EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_optional pitch_also_in_chords {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($3, $2);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_closed_optional duration_length {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($3, $2);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_PITCH function_arglist_skip DEFAULT {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_DURATION function_arglist_skip DEFAULT {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
-       }
-       | EXPECT_OPTIONAL EXPECT_SCM function_arglist_skip DEFAULT {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
+       ;
+
+scm_function_call_closed:
+       SCM_FUNCTION function_arglist_closed {
+               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("music-function", @$,
+                                        $1, $2);
        }
        ;
 
@@ -1652,14 +2077,14 @@ complex_music:
        ;
 
 complex_music_prefix:
-       CONTEXT simple_string optional_id optional_context_mod {
+       CONTEXT symbol optional_id optional_context_mod {
                 Context_mod *ctxmod = unsmob_context_mod ($4);
                 SCM mods = SCM_EOL;
                 if (ctxmod)
                         mods = ctxmod->get_mods ();
                $$ = START_MAKE_SYNTAX ("context-specification", $2, $3, mods, SCM_BOOL_F);
        }
-       | NEWCONTEXT simple_string optional_id optional_context_mod {
+       | NEWCONTEXT symbol optional_id optional_context_mod {
                 Context_mod *ctxmod = unsmob_context_mod ($4);
                 SCM mods = SCM_EOL;
                 if (ctxmod)
@@ -1783,45 +2208,96 @@ re_rhythmed_music:
        ;
 
 context_change:
-       CHANGE STRING '=' STRING  {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("context-change", @$, scm_string_to_symbol ($2), $4);
+       CHANGE symbol '=' simple_string  {
+               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("context-change", @$, $2, $4);
        }
        ;
 
 
-property_path_revved:
-       embedded_scm_closed {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($1, SCM_EOL);
-       }
-       | property_path_revved embedded_scm_closed {
-               $$ = scm_cons ($2, $1);
-       }
-       ;
-
 property_path:
-       property_path_revved  {
+       symbol_list_rev  {
                $$ = scm_reverse_x ($1, SCM_EOL);
        }
+       | symbol_list_rev property_path {
+               $$ = scm_reverse_x ($1, $2);
+       }
        ;
 
 property_operation:
-       STRING '=' scalar {
-               $$ = scm_list_3 (ly_symbol2scm ("assign"),
-                       scm_string_to_symbol ($1), $3);
+       symbol '=' scalar {
+               $$ = scm_list_3 (ly_symbol2scm ("assign"), $1, $3);
+       }
+       | UNSET symbol {
+               $$ = scm_list_2 (ly_symbol2scm ("unset"), $2);
+       }
+       | OVERRIDE property_path '=' scalar {
+               if (scm_ilength ($2) < 2) {
+                       parser->parser_error (@2, _("bad grob property path"));
+                       $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_cons (ly_symbol2scm ("push"),
+                                      scm_cons2 (scm_car ($2),
+                                                 $4,
+                                                 scm_cdr ($2)));
+               }
        }
-       | UNSET simple_string {
-               $$ = scm_list_2 (ly_symbol2scm ("unset"),
-                       scm_string_to_symbol ($2));
+       | REVERT revert_arg {
+               $$ = scm_cons (ly_symbol2scm ("pop"), $2);
+       }
+       ;
+
+// This is all quite awkward for the sake of substantial backward
+// compatibility while at the same time allowing a more "natural" form
+// of specification not separating grob specification from grob
+// property path.  The purpose of this definition of revert_arg is to
+// allow the symbol list which specifies grob and property to revert
+// to be optionally be split into two parts after the grob (which in
+// this case is just the first element of the list).  symbol_list_part
+// is only one path component, but it can be parsed without lookahead,
+// so we can follow it with a synthetic BACKUP token when needed.  If
+// the first symbol_list_part already contains multiple elements (only
+// possible if a Scheme expression provides them), we just parse for
+// additional elements introduced by '.', which is what the
+// SYMBOL_LIST backup in connection with the immediately following
+// rule using symbol_list_arg does.
+//
+// As long as we don't have our coffers filled with both grob and at
+// least one grob property specification, the rest of the required
+// symbol list chain may be provided either with or without a leading
+// dot.  This is for both allowing the traditional
+// \revert Accidental #'color
+// as well as well as the "naive" form
+// \revert Accidental.color
+
+revert_arg:
+       revert_arg_backup BACKUP symbol_list_arg
+       {
+               $$ = $3;
        }
-       | OVERRIDE simple_string property_path '=' scalar {
-               $$ = scm_append (scm_list_2 (scm_list_3 (ly_symbol2scm ("push"),
-                                                       scm_string_to_symbol ($2), $5),
-                                            $3));
+       ;
+
+revert_arg_backup:
+       revert_arg_part
+       {
+               if (scm_is_null ($1)
+                   || scm_is_null (scm_cdr ($1)))
+                       MYBACKUP (SCM_ARG, $1, @1);
+               else
+                       MYBACKUP (SYMBOL_LIST, scm_reverse_x ($1, SCM_EOL), @1);
        }
-       | REVERT simple_string embedded_scm {
-               $$ = scm_list_3 (ly_symbol2scm ("pop"),
-                       scm_string_to_symbol ($2), $3);
+       ;
+
+// revert_arg_part delivers results in reverse
+revert_arg_part:
+       symbol_list_part
+       | revert_arg_backup BACKUP SCM_ARG '.' symbol_list_part
+       {
+               $$ = scm_append_x (scm_list_2 ($5, $3));
        }
+       | revert_arg_backup BACKUP SCM_ARG symbol_list_part
+       {
+               $$ = scm_append_x (scm_list_2 ($4, $3));
+       }               
        ;
 
 context_def_mod:
@@ -1859,52 +2335,141 @@ context_mod:
        }
        ;
 
-context_prop_spec:
-       simple_string {
-               if (!is_regular_identifier ($1))
+// If defined, at least two members.
+grob_prop_spec:
+       symbol_list_rev
+       {
+               SCM l = scm_reverse_x ($1, SCM_EOL);
+               if (scm_is_pair (l)
+                   && to_boolean
+                   (scm_object_property (scm_car (l),
+                                         ly_symbol2scm ("is-grob?"))))
+                       l = scm_cons (ly_symbol2scm ("Bottom"), l);
+               if (scm_is_null (l) || scm_is_null (scm_cdr (l))) {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("bad grob property path"));
+                       l = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               }
+               $$ = l;
+       }
+       ;
+
+// If defined, at least three members
+grob_prop_path:
+       grob_prop_spec
+       {
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($1) && scm_is_null (scm_cddr ($1)))
                {
-                       @$.error (_("Grob name should be alphanumeric"));
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("bad grob property path"));
+                       $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               }
+       }
+       | grob_prop_spec property_path
+       {
+               if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($1)) {
+                       $$ = scm_append_x (scm_list_2 ($1, $2));
+                       if (scm_is_null (scm_cddr ($$))) {
+                               parser->parser_error (@$, _ ("bad grob property path"));
+                               $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+                       }
                }
 
-               $$ = scm_list_2 (ly_symbol2scm ("Bottom"),
-                       scm_string_to_symbol ($1));
        }
-       | simple_string '.' simple_string {
-               $$ = scm_list_2 (scm_string_to_symbol ($1),
-                       scm_string_to_symbol ($3));
+       ;
+
+// Exactly two elements or undefined
+context_prop_spec:
+       symbol_list_rev
+       {
+               SCM l = scm_reverse_x ($1, SCM_EOL);
+               switch (scm_ilength (l)) {
+               case 1:
+                       l = scm_cons (ly_symbol2scm ("Bottom"), l);
+               case 2:
+                       break;
+               default:
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("bad context property path"));
+                       l = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               }
+               $$ = l;
        }
        ;
 
 simple_music_property_def:
-       OVERRIDE context_prop_spec property_path '=' scalar {
-               $$ = scm_append (scm_list_2 (scm_list_n (scm_car ($2),
-                               ly_symbol2scm ("OverrideProperty"),
-                               scm_cadr ($2),
-                               $5, SCM_UNDEFINED),
-                               $3));
-       }
-       | REVERT context_prop_spec embedded_scm {
-               $$ = scm_list_4 (scm_car ($2),
-                       ly_symbol2scm ("RevertProperty"),
-                       scm_cadr ($2),
-                       $3);
+       OVERRIDE grob_prop_path '=' scalar {
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               else {
+                       $$ = scm_list_5 (scm_car ($2),
+                                        ly_symbol2scm ("OverrideProperty"),
+                                        scm_cadr ($2),
+                                        $4,
+                                        scm_cddr ($2));
+               }
+       }
+       | REVERT simple_revert_context revert_arg {
+               $$ = scm_list_4 ($2,
+                                ly_symbol2scm ("RevertProperty"),
+                                scm_car ($3),
+                                scm_cdr ($3));
        }
        | SET context_prop_spec '=' scalar {
-               $$ = scm_list_4 (scm_car ($2),
-                       ly_symbol2scm ("PropertySet"),
-                       scm_cadr ($2),
-                       $4);
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               else
+                       $$ = scm_list_4 (scm_car ($2),
+                                        ly_symbol2scm ("PropertySet"),
+                                        scm_cadr ($2),
+                                        $4);
        }
        | UNSET context_prop_spec {
-               $$ = scm_list_3 (scm_car ($2),
-                       ly_symbol2scm ("PropertyUnset"),
-                       scm_cadr ($2));
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
+               else
+                       $$ = scm_list_3 (scm_car ($2),
+                                        ly_symbol2scm ("PropertyUnset"),
+                                        scm_cadr ($2));
+       }
+       ;
+
+
+// This is all quite awkward for the sake of substantial backward
+// compatibility while at the same time allowing a more "natural" form
+// of specification not separating grob specification from grob
+// property path.  The purpose of this definition of
+// simple_revert_context is to allow the symbol list which specifies
+// grob and property to revert to be optionally be split into two
+// parts after the grob (which may be preceded by a context
+// specification, a case which we distinguish by checking whether the
+// first symbol is a valid grob symbol instead).
+//
+// See revert_arg above for the main work horse of this arrangement.
+// simple_revert_context just caters for the context and delegates the
+// rest of the job to revert_arg.
+
+simple_revert_context:
+       symbol_list_part
+       {
+               $1 = scm_reverse_x ($1, SCM_EOL);
+               if (scm_is_null ($1)
+                   || to_boolean
+                   (scm_object_property (scm_car ($1),
+                                         ly_symbol2scm ("is-grob?")))) {
+                       $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("Bottom");
+                       parser->lexer_->push_extra_token (SCM_IDENTIFIER, $1);
+               } else {
+                       $$ = scm_car ($1);
+                       parser->lexer_->push_extra_token (SCM_IDENTIFIER,
+                                                         scm_cdr ($1));
+               }
        }
        ;
 
 music_property_def:
        simple_music_property_def {
-               $$ = LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (ly_lily_module_constant ("property-operation"), scm_cons2 (parser->self_scm (), make_input (@$), $1));
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($1))
+                       $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("void-music", @1);
+               else
+                       $$ = LOWLEVEL_MAKE_SYNTAX (ly_lily_module_constant ("property-operation"), scm_cons2 (parser->self_scm (), make_input (@$), $1));
        }
        ;
 
@@ -1913,25 +2478,11 @@ string:
                $$ = $1;
        }
        | full_markup
-       | string '+' string {
-               if (!scm_is_string ($1)) {
-                       parser->parser_error (@1, (_ ("simple string expected")));
-                       $1 = scm_string (SCM_EOL);
-               }
-               if (!scm_is_string ($3)) {
-                       parser->parser_error (@3, (_ ("simple string expected")));
-                       $3 = scm_string (SCM_EOL);
-               }
-               $$ = scm_string_append (scm_list_2 ($1, $3));
-       }
        ;
 
 simple_string: STRING {
                $$ = $1;
        }
-       | LYRICS_STRING {
-               $$ = $1;
-       }
        | embedded_scm_bare
        {
                if (scm_is_string ($1)) {
@@ -1943,21 +2494,45 @@ simple_string: STRING {
        }
        ;
 
-scalar:
-       embedded_scm_arg
-       | bare_number
-       | FRACTION
-       | lyric_element
+symbol:
+       STRING {
+               $$ = scm_string_to_symbol ($1);
+       }
+       | embedded_scm_bare
+       {
+               // This is a bit of overkill but makes the same
+               // routine responsible for all symbol interpretations.
+               $$ = try_string_variants (ly_lily_module_constant ("symbol?"),
+                                         $1);
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($$))
+               {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, (_ ("symbol expected")));
+                       // Generate a unique symbol in case it is used
+                       // for an assignment or similar
+                       $$ = scm_make_symbol (ly_string2scm ("undefined"));
+               }
+       }
        ;
 
-scalar_closed:
-       embedded_scm_arg_closed
+scalar:
+       embedded_scm_arg
+       | SCM_IDENTIFIER
        | bare_number
-       | FRACTION
-       | lyric_element
+       // The following is a rather defensive variant of admitting
+       // negative numbers: the grammar would permit number_factor or
+       // even number_expression.  However, function arguments allow
+       // only this simple kind of negative number, so to have things
+       // like \tweak and \override behave reasonably similar, it
+       // makes sense to rule out things like -- which are rather an
+       // accent in function argument contexts.
+       | '-' bare_number
+       {
+               $$ = scm_difference ($2, SCM_UNDEFINED);
+       }
+       | STRING
+       | full_markup
        ;
 
-
 event_chord:
        simple_element post_events {
                // Let the rhythmic music iterator sort this mess out.
@@ -1967,30 +2542,39 @@ event_chord:
                                 unsmob_music ($$)->set_property ("articulations",
                                                                  scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL));
                         else
+                       {
                                 parser->parser_error (@1, _("music expected"));
+                               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("void-music", @1);
+                       }
                }
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        | simple_chord_elements post_events     {
-               SCM elts = ly_append2 ($1, scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL));
-
-               Input i;
-               /* why is this giving wrong start location? -ns
-                * i = @$; */
-               i.set_location (@1, @2);
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("event-chord", i, elts);
-       }
+               if (scm_is_pair ($2)) {
+                       if (unsmob_pitch ($1))
+                               $1 = make_chord_elements (@1,
+                                                         $1,
+                                                         parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy (),
+                                                         SCM_EOL);
+
+                       SCM elts = ly_append2 ($1, scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL));
+
+                       $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("event-chord", @1, elts);
+               } else if (!unsmob_pitch ($1))
+                       $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("event-chord", @1, $1);
+               // A mere pitch drops through.
+       } %prec ':'
        | CHORD_REPETITION optional_notemode_duration post_events {
                Input i;
                i.set_location (@1, @3);
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("repetition-chord", i,
                                  $2, scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL));
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        | MULTI_MEASURE_REST optional_notemode_duration post_events {
                Input i;
                i.set_location (@1, @3);
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("multi-measure-rest", i, $2,
                                  scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL));
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        | command_element
        | note_chord_element
        ;
@@ -2011,7 +2595,7 @@ note_chord_element:
                m-> set_property ("elements", es);
                m->set_spot (@$);
                $$ = m->self_scm ();
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        ;
 
 chord_body:
@@ -2019,6 +2603,7 @@ chord_body:
        {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("event-chord", @$, scm_reverse_x ($2, SCM_EOL));
        }
+       | CHORD_BODY_IDENTIFIER
        ;
 
 chord_body_elements:
@@ -2110,40 +2695,10 @@ command_element:
        command_event {
                $$ = $1;
        }
-       | E_BRACKET_OPEN {
-               Music *m = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("LigatureEvent", @$);
-               m->set_property ("span-direction", scm_from_int (START));
-               $$ = m->unprotect();
-       }
-       | E_BRACKET_CLOSE {
-               Music *m = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("LigatureEvent", @$);
-               m->set_property ("span-direction", scm_from_int (STOP));
-               $$ = m->unprotect ();
-       }
-       | E_BACKSLASH {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("voice-separator", @$);
-       }
-       | '|'      {
-               SCM pipe = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("pipeSymbol");
-
-               Music *m = unsmob_music (pipe);
-               if (m)
-               {
-                       m = m->clone ();
-                       m->set_spot (@$);
-                       $$ = m->unprotect ();
-               }
-               else
-                       $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("bar-check", @$);
-
-       }
        ;
 
 command_event:
-       E_TILDE {
-               $$ = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("PesOrFlexaEvent", @$)->unprotect ();
-       }
-       | tempo_event {
+       tempo_event {
                $$ = $1;
        }
        ;
@@ -2154,8 +2709,22 @@ post_events:
                $$ = SCM_EOL;
        }
        | post_events post_event {
-               unsmob_music ($2)->set_spot (@2);
-               $$ = scm_cons ($2, $$);
+               $$ = $1;
+               if (Music *m = unsmob_music ($2))
+               {
+                       if (m->is_mus_type ("post-event-wrapper"))
+                       {
+                               for (SCM p = m->get_property ("elements");
+                                    scm_is_pair (p);
+                                    p = scm_cdr (p))
+                               {
+                                       $$ = scm_cons (scm_car (p), $$);
+                               }
+                       } else {
+                               m->set_spot (@2);
+                               $$ = scm_cons ($2, $$);
+                       }
+               }
        }
        ;
 
@@ -2165,7 +2734,10 @@ post_event_nofinger:
        }
        | script_dir music_function_call_closed {
                $$ = $2;
-               if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($1))
+               if (!unsmob_music ($2)->is_mus_type ("post-event")) {
+                       parser->parser_error (@2, _ ("post-event expected"));
+                       $$ = SCM_UNSPECIFIED;
+               } else if (!SCM_UNBNDP ($1))
                {
                        unsmob_music ($$)->set_property ("direction", $1);
                }
@@ -2223,55 +2795,8 @@ string_number_event:
        }
        ;
 
-direction_less_char:
-       '['  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("bracketOpenSymbol");
-       }
-       | ']'  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("bracketCloseSymbol");
-       }
-       | '~'  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("tildeSymbol");
-       }
-       | '('  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("parenthesisOpenSymbol");
-       }
-       | ')'  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("parenthesisCloseSymbol");
-       }
-       | E_EXCLAMATION  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("escapedExclamationSymbol");
-       }
-       | E_OPEN  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("escapedParenthesisOpenSymbol");
-       }
-       | E_CLOSE  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("escapedParenthesisCloseSymbol");
-       }
-       | E_ANGLE_CLOSE  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("escapedBiggerSymbol");
-       }
-       | E_ANGLE_OPEN  {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("escapedSmallerSymbol");
-       }
-       ;
-
 direction_less_event:
-       direction_less_char {
-               SCM predefd = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier_symbol ($1);
-               Music *m = 0;
-               if (unsmob_music (predefd))
-               {
-                       m = unsmob_music (predefd)->clone ();
-                       m->set_spot (@$);
-               }
-               else
-               {
-                       m = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("Music", @$);
-               }
-               $$ = m->unprotect ();
-       }
-       | string_number_event
+       string_number_event
        | EVENT_IDENTIFIER      {
                $$ = $1;
        }
@@ -2289,11 +2814,18 @@ direction_reqd_event:
        }
        | script_abbreviation {
                SCM s = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("dash" + ly_scm2string ($1));
-               Music *a = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("ArticulationEvent", @$);
-               if (scm_is_string (s))
+               if (scm_is_string (s)) {
+                       Music *a = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("ArticulationEvent", @$);
                        a->set_property ("articulation-type", s);
-               else parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("expecting string as script definition"));
-               $$ = a->unprotect ();
+                       $$ = a->unprotect ();
+               } else if (ly_prob_type_p (s, ly_symbol2scm ("ArticulationEvent"))) {
+                       $$ = s;
+                       if (Music *original = unsmob_music (s)) {
+                               Music *a = original->clone ();
+                               a->set_spot (parser->lexer_->override_input (@$));
+                               $$ = a->unprotect ();
+                       }
+               } else parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("expecting string or ArticulationEvent as script definition"));
        }
        ;
 
@@ -2357,12 +2889,25 @@ steno_tonic_pitch:
 
 pitch:
        steno_pitch
-       | PITCH_IDENTIFIER
+       | PITCH_IDENTIFIER quotes {
+                if (!scm_is_eq (SCM_INUM0, $2))
+                {
+                        Pitch p = *unsmob_pitch ($1);
+                        p = p.transposed (Pitch (scm_to_int ($2),0,0));
+                        $$ = p.smobbed_copy ();
+                }
+       }
        ;
 
-pitch_also_in_chords:
-       pitch
-       | steno_tonic_pitch
+pitch_arg:
+       PITCH_ARG quotes {
+                if (!scm_is_eq (SCM_INUM0, $2))
+                {
+                        Pitch p = *unsmob_pitch ($1);
+                        p = p.transposed (Pitch (scm_to_int ($2),0,0));
+                        $$ = p.smobbed_copy ();
+                }
+       }
        ;
 
 gen_text_def:
@@ -2377,13 +2922,7 @@ gen_text_def:
                        make_simple_markup ($1));
                $$ = t->unprotect ();
        }
-       | LYRICS_STRING {
-               Music *t = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("TextScriptEvent", @$);
-               t->set_property ("text",
-                       make_simple_markup ($1));
-               $$ = t->unprotect ();
-       }
-       | embedded_scm_bare
+       | embedded_scm_closed
        {
                Music *m = unsmob_music ($1);
                if (m && m->is_mus_type ("post-event"))
@@ -2415,8 +2954,8 @@ script_abbreviation:
        | '-'           {
                $$ = scm_from_locale_string ("Dash");
        }
-       | '|'           {
-               $$ = scm_from_locale_string ("Bar");
+       | '!'           {
+               $$ = scm_from_locale_string ("Bang");
        }
        | ANGLE_CLOSE   {
                $$ = scm_from_locale_string ("Larger");
@@ -2444,7 +2983,7 @@ duration_length:
 maybe_notemode_duration:
        {
                $$ = SCM_UNDEFINED;
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        | multiplied_duration   {
                $$ = $1;
                parser->default_duration_ = *unsmob_duration ($$);
@@ -2462,14 +3001,12 @@ optional_notemode_duration:
 
 steno_duration:
        UNSIGNED dots           {
-               int len = 0;
-                int n = scm_to_int ($1);
-               if (!is_duration (n))
-                       parser->parser_error (@1, _f ("not a duration: %d", n));
-               else
-                       len = intlog2 (n);
-
-               $$ = Duration (len, scm_to_int ($2)).smobbed_copy ();
+               $$ = make_duration ($1, scm_to_int ($2));
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($$))
+               {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("not a duration"));
+                       $$ = Duration ().smobbed_copy ();
+               }
        }
        | DURATION_IDENTIFIER dots      {
                Duration *d = unsmob_duration ($1);
@@ -2509,9 +3046,8 @@ tremolo_type:
                $$ = SCM_INUM0;
        }
        | ':' UNSIGNED {
-                int n = scm_to_int ($2);
-               if (!is_duration (n))
-                       parser->parser_error (@2, _f ("not a duration: %d", n));
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP (make_duration ($2)))
+                       parser->parser_error (@2, _ ("not a duration"));
                $$ = $2;
        }
        ;
@@ -2573,38 +3109,23 @@ bass_figure:
        }
        | bass_figure figured_bass_modification  {
                Music *m = unsmob_music ($1);
-               if ($2 == ly_symbol2scm ("plus"))
-                       {
-                       m->set_property ("augmented", SCM_BOOL_T);
-                       }
-               else if ($2 == ly_symbol2scm ("slash"))
-                       {
-                       m->set_property ("diminished", SCM_BOOL_T);
-                       }
-               else if ($2 == ly_symbol2scm ("exclamation"))
-                       {
-                       m->set_property ("no-continuation", SCM_BOOL_T);
-                       }
-               else if ($2 == ly_symbol2scm ("backslash"))
-                       {
-                       m->set_property ("augmented-slash", SCM_BOOL_T);
-                       }
+               m->set_property ($2, SCM_BOOL_T);
        }
        ;
 
 
 figured_bass_modification:
        E_PLUS          {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("plus");
+               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("augmented");
        }
        | E_EXCLAMATION {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("exclamation");
+               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("no-continuation");
        }
        | '/'           {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("slash");
+               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("diminished");
        }
        | E_BACKSLASH {
-               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("backslash");
+               $$ = ly_symbol2scm ("augmented-slash");
        }
        ;
 
@@ -2698,6 +3219,7 @@ simple_element:
        }
        ;
 
+// Can return a single pitch rather than a list.
 simple_chord_elements:
        new_chord {
                 if (!parser->lexer_->is_chord_state ())
@@ -2714,54 +3236,40 @@ simple_chord_elements:
        ;
 
 lyric_element:
-       lyric_markup {
+       full_markup {
+               if (!parser->lexer_->is_lyric_state ())
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("markup outside of text script or \\lyricmode"));
                $$ = $1;
        }
-       | LYRICS_STRING {
+       | STRING {
+               if (!parser->lexer_->is_lyric_state ())
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _ ("unrecognized string, not in text script or \\lyricmode"));
                $$ = $1;
        }
+       | LYRIC_ELEMENT
        ;
 
-lyric_element_arg:
-       lyric_element
-       | lyric_element multiplied_duration post_events {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", @$, $1, $2);
-               if (scm_is_pair ($3))
-                       unsmob_music ($$)->set_property
-                               ("articulations", scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL));
-       }
-       | lyric_element post_event post_events {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", @$, $1,
-                                 parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
-               unsmob_music ($$)->set_property
-                       ("articulations", scm_cons ($2, scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL)));
-       }
-       | LYRIC_ELEMENT optional_notemode_duration post_events {
-               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", @$, $1, $2);
-               if (scm_is_pair ($3))
-                       unsmob_music ($$)->set_property
-                               ("articulations", scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL));
-       }
-       ;
-
-
 lyric_element_music:
        lyric_element optional_notemode_duration post_events {
                $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", @$, $1, $2);
                if (scm_is_pair ($3))
                        unsmob_music ($$)->set_property
                                ("articulations", scm_reverse_x ($3, SCM_EOL));
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        ;
 
+// Can return a single pitch rather than a list.
 new_chord:
-       steno_tonic_pitch optional_notemode_duration   {
-               $$ = make_chord_elements (@$, $1, $2, SCM_EOL);
+       steno_tonic_pitch maybe_notemode_duration   {
+               if (SCM_UNBNDP ($2))
+                       $$ = $1;
+               else
+                       $$ = make_chord_elements (@$, $1, $2, SCM_EOL);
        }
        | steno_tonic_pitch optional_notemode_duration chord_separator chord_items {
                SCM its = scm_reverse_x ($4, SCM_EOL);
                $$ = make_chord_elements (@$, $1, $2, scm_cons ($3, its));
-       }
+       } %prec ':'
        ;
 
 chord_items:
@@ -2820,10 +3328,10 @@ step_number:
        ;
 
 tempo_range:
-       UNSIGNED {
+       unsigned_number {
                $$ = $1;
-       }
-       | UNSIGNED '~' UNSIGNED {
+       } %prec ':'
+       | unsigned_number '-' unsigned_number {
                $$ = scm_cons ($1, $3);
        }
        ;
@@ -2863,26 +3371,52 @@ number_factor:
        | bare_number
        ;
 
+bare_number_common:
+       bare_number_common_closed
+       | REAL NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               $$ = scm_product ($1, $2);
+       }
+       ;
+
+bare_number_common_closed:
+       REAL
+       | NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       ;
 
 bare_number:
-       bare_number_closed
+       bare_number_common
+       | UNSIGNED
        | UNSIGNED NUMBER_IDENTIFIER    {
                $$ = scm_product ($1, $2);
        }
-       | REAL NUMBER_IDENTIFIER        {
-               $$ = scm_product ($1, $2);
-       }
        ;
 
 bare_number_closed:
        UNSIGNED
-       | REAL
-       | NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       | bare_number_common_closed
        ;
 
 unsigned_number:
        UNSIGNED
        | NUMBER_IDENTIFIER
+       {
+               if (!scm_is_integer ($1)
+                   || scm_is_true (scm_negative_p ($1)))
+               {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _("not an unsigned integer"));
+                       $$ = SCM_INUM0;
+               }
+       }
+       | embedded_scm
+       {
+               if (!scm_is_integer ($1)
+                   || scm_is_true (scm_negative_p ($1)))
+               {
+                       parser->parser_error (@1, _("not an unsigned integer"));
+                       $$ = SCM_INUM0;
+               }
+       }
        ;
 
 exclamations:
@@ -2907,19 +3441,6 @@ questions:
         }
        ;
 
-/*
-This should be done more dynamically if possible.
-*/
-
-lyric_markup:
-       LYRIC_MARKUP
-               { parser->lexer_->push_markup_state (); }
-       markup_top {
-               $$ = $3;
-               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
-       }
-       ;
-
 full_markup_list:
        MARKUPLIST
                { parser->lexer_->push_markup_state (); }
@@ -2942,8 +3463,10 @@ markup_top:
        markup_list {
                $$ = scm_list_2 (ly_lily_module_constant ("line-markup"),  $1);
        }
-       | markup_head_1_list simple_markup      {
-               $$ = scm_car (scm_call_2 (ly_lily_module_constant ("map-markup-command-list"), $1, scm_list_1 ($2)));
+       | markup_head_1_list simple_markup
+       {
+               $$ = scm_car (MAKE_SYNTAX ("composed-markup-list",
+                                          @2, $1, scm_list_1 ($2)));
        }
        | simple_markup {
                $$ = $1;
@@ -2969,7 +3492,11 @@ markup_list:
        markup_composed_list {
                $$ = $1;
        }
-       | markup_braced_list {
+       | markup_uncomposed_list
+       ;
+
+markup_uncomposed_list:
+       markup_braced_list {
                $$ = $1;
        }
        | markup_command_list {
@@ -2979,12 +3506,19 @@ markup_list:
        {
                $$ = $2;
        }
+       | SCORELINES {
+               SCM nn = parser->lexer_->lookup_identifier ("pitchnames");
+               parser->lexer_->push_note_state (nn);
+       } '{' score_body '}' {
+               $$ = scm_list_1 (scm_list_2 (ly_lily_module_constant ("score-lines-markup-list"), $4));
+               parser->lexer_->pop_state ();
+       }
        ;
 
 markup_composed_list:
-       markup_head_1_list markup_braced_list {
-               $$ = scm_call_2 (ly_lily_module_constant ("map-markup-command-list"), $1, $2);
-
+       markup_head_1_list markup_uncomposed_list {
+               $$ = MAKE_SYNTAX ("composed-markup-list",
+                                 @2, $1, $2);
        }
        ;
 
@@ -3065,9 +3599,10 @@ simple_markup:
        ;
 
 markup:
-       markup_head_1_list simple_markup        {
-               SCM mapper = ly_lily_module_constant ("map-markup-command-list");
-               $$ = scm_car (scm_call_2 (mapper, $1, scm_list_1 ($2)));
+       markup_head_1_list simple_markup
+       {
+               $$ = scm_car (MAKE_SYNTAX ("composed-markup-list",
+                                          @2, $1, scm_list_1 ($2)));
        }
        | simple_markup {
                $$ = $1;
@@ -3123,18 +3658,9 @@ Lily_lexer::try_special_identifiers (SCM *destination, SCM sid)
                 *destination = unsmob_context_mod (sid)->smobbed_copy ();
 
                 return CONTEXT_MOD_IDENTIFIER;
-       } else if (unsmob_score (sid)) {
-               Score *score = new Score (*unsmob_score (sid));
-               *destination = score->self_scm ();
-
-               score->unprotect ();
-               return SCORE_IDENTIFIER;
        } else if (Music *mus = unsmob_music (sid)) {
                mus = mus->clone ();
                *destination = mus->self_scm ();
-               unsmob_music (*destination)->
-                       set_property ("origin", make_input (last_input_));
-
                bool is_event = mus->is_mus_type ("post-event");
                mus->unprotect ();
                return is_event ? EVENT_IDENTIFIER : MUSIC_IDENTIFIER;
@@ -3172,14 +3698,34 @@ get_next_unique_lyrics_context_id ()
        return scm_from_locale_string (s);
 }
 
+// check_scheme_arg checks one argument with a given predicate for use
+// in an argument list and throws a syntax error if it is unusable.
+// The argument is prepended to the argument list in any case.  After
+// throwing a syntax error, the argument list is terminated with #f as
+// its last cdr in order to mark it as uncallable while not losing
+// track of its total length.
+//
+// There are a few special considerations: if optional argument disp
+// is given (otherwise it defaults to SCM_UNDEFINED), it will be used
+// instead of arg in a prospective error message.  This is useful if
+// arg is not the actual argument but rather a transformation of it.
+//
+// If arg itself is SCM_UNDEFINED, the predicate is considered false
+// and an error message using disp is produced unconditionally.
+
 SCM check_scheme_arg (Lily_parser *parser, Input loc,
-                     SCM arg, SCM args, SCM pred)
+                     SCM arg, SCM args, SCM pred, SCM disp)
 {
-       args = scm_cons (arg, args);
-       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, arg)))
-               return args;
+       if (SCM_UNBNDP (arg))
+               args = scm_cons (disp, args);
+       else {
+               args = scm_cons (arg, args);
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, arg)))
+                       return args;
+       }
        scm_set_cdr_x (scm_last_pair (args), SCM_EOL);
-       MAKE_SYNTAX ("argument-error", loc, scm_length (args), pred, arg);
+       MAKE_SYNTAX ("argument-error", loc, scm_length (args), pred,
+                    SCM_UNBNDP (disp) ? arg : disp);
        scm_set_cdr_x (scm_last_pair (args), SCM_BOOL_F);
        return args;
 }
@@ -3195,9 +3741,54 @@ SCM loc_on_music (Input loc, SCM arg)
        return arg;
 }
 
+SCM
+try_string_variants (SCM pred, SCM str)
+{
+       // a matching predicate is always ok
+       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, str)))
+               return str;
+       // a symbol may be interpreted as a list of symbols if it helps
+       if (scm_is_symbol (str)) {
+               str = scm_list_1 (str);
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, str)))
+                       return str;
+               return SCM_UNDEFINED;
+       }
+
+       // If this cannot be a string representation of a symbol list,
+       // we are through.
+
+       if (!is_regular_identifier (str, true))
+               return SCM_UNDEFINED;
+
+       str = scm_string_split (str, SCM_MAKE_CHAR ('.'));
+       for (SCM p = str; scm_is_pair (p); p = scm_cdr (p))
+               scm_set_car_x (p, scm_string_to_symbol (scm_car (p)));
+
+       // Let's attempt the symbol list interpretation first.
+
+       if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, str)))
+               return str;
+
+       // If there is just one symbol in the list, we might interpret
+       // it as a single symbol
+
+       if (scm_is_null (scm_cdr (str)))
+       {
+               str = scm_car (str);
+               if (scm_is_true (scm_call_1 (pred, str)))
+                       return str;
+       }
+
+       return SCM_UNDEFINED;
+}
+
 bool
-is_regular_identifier (SCM id)
+is_regular_identifier (SCM id, bool multiple)
 {
+  if (!scm_is_string (id))
+         return false;
+
   string str = ly_scm2string (id);
 
   bool middle = false;
@@ -3209,7 +3800,7 @@ is_regular_identifier (SCM id)
              || (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z')
              || c > 0x7f)
                  middle = true;
-         else if (middle && (c == '-' || c == '_'))
+         else if (middle && (c == '-' || c == '_' || (multiple && c == '.')))
                  middle = false;
          else
                  return false;
@@ -3223,26 +3814,31 @@ make_music_from_simple (Lily_parser *parser, Input loc, SCM simple)
        if (unsmob_music (simple))
                return simple;
        if (parser->lexer_->is_note_state ()) {
-               Music *n = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("NoteEvent", loc);
-               n->set_property ("duration", parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
-               if (scm_is_symbol (simple))
+               if (scm_is_symbol (simple)) {
+                       Music *n = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("NoteEvent", loc);
+                       n->set_property ("duration", parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
                        n->set_property ("drum-type", simple);
-               else if (unsmob_pitch (simple))
+                       return n->unprotect ();
+               }
+               if (unsmob_pitch (simple)) {
+                       Music *n = MY_MAKE_MUSIC ("NoteEvent", loc);
+                       n->set_property ("duration", parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
                        n->set_property ("pitch", simple);
-               else {
-                       n->unprotect ();
-                       return simple;
+                       return n->unprotect ();
                }
-               return n->unprotect ();
+               return simple;
        } else if (parser->lexer_->is_lyric_state ()) {
                if (Text_interface::is_markup (simple))
                        return MAKE_SYNTAX ("lyric-event", loc, simple,
                                            parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy ());
        } else if (parser->lexer_->is_chord_state ()) {
                if (unsmob_pitch (simple))
-                       return make_chord_elements (loc, simple,
-                                                   parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy (),
-                                                   SCM_EOL);
+                       return MAKE_SYNTAX
+                               ("event-chord",
+                                loc,
+                                make_chord_elements (loc, simple,
+                                                     parser->default_duration_.smobbed_copy (),
+                                                     SCM_EOL));
        }
        return simple;
 }
@@ -3261,10 +3857,14 @@ make_simple_markup (SCM a)
        return a;
 }
 
-bool
-is_duration (int t)
+SCM
+make_duration (SCM d, int dots)
 {
-  return t && t == 1 << intlog2 (t);
+       int t = scm_to_int (d);
+       if (t > 0 && (t & (t-1)) == 0)
+               return Duration (intlog2 (t), dots).smobbed_copy ();
+       else
+               return SCM_UNDEFINED;
 }
 
 SCM