Invalid input I expected to be valid

[Phil Holmes]

{
 \time 2/4
 \times 2/3 {  g'4  g'4  g'4 } \p
}

gives:

error: syntax error, unexpected EVENT_IDENTIFIER
 \times 2/3 {  g'4  g'4  g'4 }
                               \p

I can see how to fix it by putting the \p inside the {} triplet marker, but 
I was surprised it's not valid syntax.

--
Phil Holmes