Variables and Repetition

[John A]

Hi all,

I just got started using Lilypond with Frescobaldi, and I'm having a 
great time. I have been trying to organize the music with variables to 
make things more efficient, and I am running into a little bit of 
trouble. This is what happens: I have a repeated figure, and store that 
figure in a variable. I call this variable a few times in a row, 
something like this:

music = { ...notes... }
\music
\music
\music

I am entering the notes in relative mode, and when I engrave the score, 
if the ending notes of the figure are too high or low, on the second 
repetition the whole figure will be an octave too high or too low. On 
the next repetition, it goes an octave higher or lower. If I put in a ' 
or , to try to bring it back into place, it throws of the initial 
instance of the figure.

Do I have to use absolute mode to do something like this, or am I just 
flat out doing it wrong? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

John A.