diff --git a/Avalonia.sln b/Avalonia.sln
index d1c5026e58..e43bfe242e 100644
--- a/Avalonia.sln
+++ b/Avalonia.sln
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Project("{2150E333-8FDC-42A3-9474-1A3956D46DE8}") = "Props", "Props", "{F3AC8BC1
 		build\SharpDX.props = build\SharpDX.props
 		build\SkiaSharp.props = build\SkiaSharp.props
 		build\Splat.props = build\Splat.props
-		build\Sprache.props = build\Sprache.props
+		build\System.Memory.props = build\System.Memory.props
 		build\XUnit.props = build\XUnit.props
 	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
diff --git a/build/Sprache.props b/build/Sprache.props
deleted file mode 100644
index 8ea84de163..0000000000
--- a/build/Sprache.props
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Sprache" Version="2.1.0" />
-  </ItemGroup>
-</Project>
diff --git a/build/System.Memory.props b/build/System.Memory.props
index f3253f8882..df7956af84 100644
--- a/build/System.Memory.props
+++ b/build/System.Memory.props
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Memory" Version="4.5.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Memory" Version="4.5.1" />
+    <!-- WORKAROUND: The packages below are transitively referenced by System.Memory, but Xamarin.Android needs them directly referenced for the linker. -->
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Unsafe" Version="4.5.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Buffers" Version="4.5.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/build/readme.md b/build/readme.md
index aed508a508..3575f0ab94 100644
--- a/build/readme.md
+++ b/build/readme.md
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 <Import Project="..\..\build\SkiaSharp.Desktop.props" />
 <Import Project="..\..\build\SkiaSharp.props" />
 <Import Project="..\..\build\Splat.props" />
-<Import Project="..\..\build\Sprache.props" />
 <Import Project="..\..\build\XUnit.props" />
 ```
 
diff --git a/packages.cake b/packages.cake
index 51d9c48159..7ebe8d4694 100644
--- a/packages.cake
+++ b/packages.cake
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ public class Packages
         var SerilogVersion = packageVersions["Serilog"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SerilogSinksDebugVersion = packageVersions["Serilog.Sinks.Debug"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SerilogSinksTraceVersion = packageVersions["Serilog.Sinks.Trace"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
-        var SpracheVersion = packageVersions["Sprache"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SystemReactiveVersion = packageVersions["System.Reactive"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var ReactiveUIVersion = packageVersions["reactiveui"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SystemValueTupleVersion = packageVersions["System.ValueTuple"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
@@ -121,10 +120,10 @@ public class Packages
         var SharpDXDirect3D11Version = packageVersions["SharpDX.Direct3D11"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SharpDXDirect3D9Version = packageVersions["SharpDX.Direct3D9"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SharpDXDXGIVersion = packageVersions["SharpDX.DXGI"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
+        var SystemMemoryVersion = packageVersions["System.Memory"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
         var SystemComponentModelAnnotationsVersion = packageVersions["System.ComponentModel.Annotations"].FirstOrDefault().Item1;
 
         context.Information("Package: Serilog, version: {0}", SerilogVersion);
-        context.Information("Package: Sprache, version: {0}", SpracheVersion);
         context.Information("Package: System.Reactive, version: {0}", SystemReactiveVersion);
         context.Information("Package: reactiveui, version: {0}", ReactiveUIVersion);
         context.Information("Package: System.ValueTuple, version: {0}", SystemValueTupleVersion);
@@ -135,6 +134,7 @@ public class Packages
         context.Information("Package: SharpDX.Direct3D11, version: {0}", SharpDXDirect3D11Version);
         context.Information("Package: SharpDX.Direct3D9, version: {0}", SharpDXDirect3D9Version);
         context.Information("Package: SharpDX.DXGI, version: {0}", SharpDXDXGIVersion);
+        context.Information("Package: System.Memory, version: {0}", SystemMemoryVersion);
 
         var nugetPackagesDir = System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("NUGET_HOME")
             ?? System.IO.Path.Combine(System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE") ?? System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("HOME"), ".nuget");
@@ -253,9 +253,9 @@ public class Packages
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog", Version = SerilogVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog.Sinks.Debug", Version = SerilogSinksDebugVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog.Sinks.Trace", Version = SerilogSinksTraceVersion },
-                    new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Sprache", Version = SpracheVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.Reactive", Version = SystemReactiveVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Avalonia.Remote.Protocol", Version = parameters.Version },
+                    new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.Memory", Version = SystemMemoryVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.ComponentModel.Annotations", Version = SystemComponentModelAnnotationsVersion },
                     //.NET Core
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.Threading.ThreadPool", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = "4.3.0" },
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ public class Packages
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SerilogVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog.Sinks.Debug", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SerilogSinksDebugVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Serilog.Sinks.Trace", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SerilogSinksTraceVersion },
-                    new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Sprache", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SpracheVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.Reactive", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SystemReactiveVersion },
                     new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Avalonia.Remote.Protocol", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = parameters.Version },
+                    new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "System.Memory", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp2.0", Version = SystemMemoryVersion },
                 }
                 .Deps(new string[]{null, "netcoreapp2.0"},
                     "System.ValueTuple", "System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter", "System.ComponentModel.Primitives",
diff --git a/samples/ControlCatalog.iOS/ControlCatalog.iOS.csproj b/samples/ControlCatalog.iOS/ControlCatalog.iOS.csproj
index a60fd242e4..368bc19abf 100644
--- a/samples/ControlCatalog.iOS/ControlCatalog.iOS.csproj
+++ b/samples/ControlCatalog.iOS/ControlCatalog.iOS.csproj
@@ -174,6 +174,5 @@
       <Name>ControlCatalog</Name>
     </ProjectReference>
   </ItemGroup>
-  <Import Project="..\..\build\Sprache.props" />
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Xamarin\iOS\Xamarin.iOS.CSharp.targets" />
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
index 359adaa1f0..06008ef02e 100644
--- a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
+++ b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
@@ -150,6 +150,6 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Xamarin\Android\Xamarin.Android.CSharp.targets" />
   <Import Project="..\..\..\build\Serilog.props" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\build\Sprache.props" />
   <Import Project="..\..\..\build\Rx.props" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\build\System.Memory.props" />
 </Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Avalonia.Base.csproj b/src/Avalonia.Base/Avalonia.Base.csproj
index 26397a6f32..bc068857ff 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Avalonia.Base.csproj
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Avalonia.Base.csproj
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@
   <Import Project="..\..\build\Binding.props" />
   <Import Project="..\..\build\Rx.props" />
   <Import Project="..\..\build\JetBrains.Annotations.props" />
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
+  <Import Project="..\..\build\System.Memory.props" />
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Data/Core/ExpressionParseException.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Data/Core/ExpressionParseException.cs
index 1845b1b52a..195c9b7660 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Data/Core/ExpressionParseException.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Data/Core/ExpressionParseException.cs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Data.Core
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="column">The column position of the error.</param>
         /// <param name="message">The exception message.</param>
+        /// <param name="innerException">The exception that caused the parsing failure.</param>
         public ExpressionParseException(int column, string message, Exception innerException = null)
             : base(message, innerException)
         {
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/CharacterReader.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/CharacterReader.cs
index 0910d5b969..55be8db043 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/CharacterReader.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/CharacterReader.cs
@@ -2,30 +2,37 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See licence.md file in the project root for full license information.
 
 using System;
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.Text;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Utilities
 {
-    public class CharacterReader
+    public ref struct CharacterReader
     {
-        private readonly string _s;
-        private int _i;
+        private ReadOnlySpan<char> _s;
 
-        public CharacterReader(string s)
+        public CharacterReader(ReadOnlySpan<char> s)
+            :this()
         {
             _s = s;
         }
 
-        public bool End => _i == _s.Length;
-        public char Peek => _s[_i];
-        public int Position => _i;
-        public char Take() => _s[_i++];
+        public bool End => _s.IsEmpty;
+        public char Peek => _s[0];
+        public int Position { get; private set; }
+        public char Take()
+        {
+            Position++;
+            char taken = _s[0];
+            _s = _s.Slice(1);
+            return taken;
+        }
 
         public void SkipWhitespace()
         {
-            while (!End && char.IsWhiteSpace(Peek))
-            {
-                Take();
-            }
+            var trimmed = _s.TrimStart();
+            Position += _s.Length - trimmed.Length;
+            _s = trimmed;
         }
 
         public bool TakeIf(char c)
@@ -40,5 +47,39 @@ namespace Avalonia.Utilities
                 return false;
             }
         }
+
+        public bool TakeIf(Func<char, bool> condition)
+        {
+            if (condition(Peek))
+            {
+                Take();
+                return true;
+            }
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        public ReadOnlySpan<char> TakeUntil(char c)
+        {
+            int len;
+            for (len = 0; len < _s.Length && _s[len] != c; len++)
+            {
+            }
+            var span = _s.Slice(0, len);
+            _s = _s.Slice(len);
+            Position += len;
+            return span;
+        }
+
+        public ReadOnlySpan<char> TakeWhile(Func<char, bool> condition)
+        {
+            int len;
+            for (len = 0; len < _s.Length && condition(_s[len]); len++)
+            {
+            }
+            var span = _s.Slice(0, len);
+            _s = _s.Slice(len);
+            Position += len;
+            return span;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/IdentifierParser.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/IdentifierParser.cs
index 14b8affbdd..0a2e8e1e1b 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/IdentifierParser.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Utilities/IdentifierParser.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-// Copyright (c) The Avalonia Project. All rights reserved.
+// Copyright (c) The Avalonia Project. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See licence.md file in the project root for full license information.
 
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.Text;
 
@@ -8,22 +10,15 @@ namespace Avalonia.Utilities
 {
     public static class IdentifierParser
     {
-        public static string Parse(CharacterReader r)
+        public static ReadOnlySpan<char> ParseIdentifier(this ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             if (IsValidIdentifierStart(r.Peek))
             {
-                var result = new StringBuilder();
-
-                while (!r.End && IsValidIdentifierChar(r.Peek))
-                {
-                    result.Append(r.Take());
-                }
-
-                return result.ToString();
+                return r.TakeWhile(IsValidIdentifierChar);
             }
             else
             {
-                return null;
+                return ReadOnlySpan<char>.Empty;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
index 627a646bcf..8a0ba64582 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Converters/AvaloniaPropertyTypeConverter.cs
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Converters
         {
             var registry = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance;
             var parser = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader((string)value);
-            var (ns, owner, propertyName) = parser.Parse(reader);
+            var (ns, owner, propertyName) = parser.Parse(new CharacterReader(((string)value).AsSpan()));
             var ownerType = TryResolveOwnerByName(context, ns, owner);
             var targetType = context.GetFirstAmbientValue<ControlTemplate>()?.TargetType ??
                 context.GetFirstAmbientValue<Style>()?.Selector?.TargetType ??
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Parsers/PropertyParser.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Parsers/PropertyParser.cs
index 702758efae..ea94012096 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Parsers/PropertyParser.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Parsers/PropertyParser.cs
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Parsers
 
             do
             {
-                var token = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+                var token = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
-                if (token == null)
+                if (token.IsEmpty)
                 {
                     if (r.End)
                     {
@@ -47,18 +47,18 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Parsers
                 else if (!r.End && r.TakeIf(':'))
                 {
                     ns = ns == null ?
-                        token :
+                        token.ToString() :
                         throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Unexpected ':'.");
                 }
                 else if (!r.End && r.TakeIf('.'))
                 {
                     owner = owner == null ?
-                        token :
+                        token.ToString() :
                         throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Unexpected '.'.");
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    name = token;
+                    name = token.ToString();
                 }
             } while (!r.End);
 
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Avalonia.Markup.csproj b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Avalonia.Markup.csproj
index 6e10509de6..673eb51901 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Avalonia.Markup.csproj
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Avalonia.Markup.csproj
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Visuals\Avalonia.Visuals.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\build\Rx.props" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\build\Sprache.props" />
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\build\System.Memory.props" />
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ArgumentListParser.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ArgumentListParser.cs
index 0ce20e1abf..23bc463e39 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ArgumentListParser.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ArgumentListParser.cs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
 {
     internal static class ArgumentListParser
     {
-        public static IList<string> Parse(CharacterReader r, char open, char close, char delimiter = ',')
+        public static IList<string> ParseArguments(this ref CharacterReader r, char open, char close, char delimiter = ',')
         {
             if (r.Peek == open)
             {
@@ -21,16 +21,13 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
 
                 while (!r.End)
                 {
-                    var builder = new StringBuilder();
-                    while (!r.End && r.Peek != delimiter && r.Peek != close && !char.IsWhiteSpace(r.Peek))
-                    {
-                        builder.Append(r.Take());
-                    }
-                    if (builder.Length == 0)
+                    var argument = r.TakeWhile(c => c != delimiter && c != close && !char.IsWhiteSpace(c));
+                    if (argument.IsEmpty)
                     {
                         throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Expected indexer argument.");
                     }
-                    result.Add(builder.ToString());
+
+                    result.Add(argument.ToString());
 
                     r.SkipWhitespace();
 
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionObserverBuilder.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionObserverBuilder.cs
index 9c98340118..90627fe14d 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionObserverBuilder.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionObserverBuilder.cs
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             {
                 return (new EmptyExpressionNode(), default);
             }
-
-            var reader = new CharacterReader(expression);
+            
+            var reader = new CharacterReader(expression.AsSpan());
             var parser = new ExpressionParser(enableValidation, typeResolver);
-            var node = parser.Parse(reader);
+            var node = parser.Parse(ref reader);
 
             if (!reader.End)
             {
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionParser.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionParser.cs
index dc1c31ed72..bf6ebe837b 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionParser.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/ExpressionParser.cs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             _enableValidation = enableValidation;
         }
 
-        public (ExpressionNode Node, SourceMode Mode) Parse(CharacterReader r)
+        public (ExpressionNode Node, SourceMode Mode) Parse(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             var nodes = new List<ExpressionNode>();
             var state = State.Start;
@@ -38,32 +38,32 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
                 switch (state)
                 {
                     case State.Start:
-                        state = ParseStart(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseStart(ref r, nodes);
                         break;
 
                     case State.AfterMember:
-                        state = ParseAfterMember(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseAfterMember(ref r, nodes);
                         break;
 
                     case State.BeforeMember:
-                        state = ParseBeforeMember(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseBeforeMember(ref r, nodes);
                         break;
 
                     case State.AttachedProperty:
-                        state = ParseAttachedProperty(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseAttachedProperty(ref r, nodes);
                         break;
 
                     case State.Indexer:
-                        state = ParseIndexer(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseIndexer(ref r, nodes);
                         break;
 
                     case State.ElementName:
-                        state = ParseElementName(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseElementName(ref r, nodes);
                         mode = SourceMode.Control;
                         break;
 
                     case State.RelativeSource:
-                        state = ParseRelativeSource(r, nodes);
+                        state = ParseRelativeSource(ref r, nodes);
                         mode = SourceMode.Control;
                         break;
                 }
@@ -82,36 +82,37 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             return (nodes.FirstOrDefault(), mode);
         }
 
-        private State ParseStart(CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private State ParseStart(ref CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            if (ParseNot(r))
+            if (ParseNot(ref r))
             {
                 nodes.Add(new LogicalNotNode());
                 return State.Start;
             }
-            else if (ParseSharp(r))
+
+            else if (ParseSharp(ref r))
             {
                 return State.ElementName;
             }
-            else if (ParseDollarSign(r))
+            else if (ParseDollarSign(ref r))
             {
                 return State.RelativeSource;
             }
-            else if (ParseOpenBrace(r))
+            else if (ParseOpenBrace(ref r))
             {
                 return State.AttachedProperty;
             }
-            else if (PeekOpenBracket(r))
+            else if (PeekOpenBracket(ref r))
             {
                 return State.Indexer;
             }
             else
             {
-                var identifier = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+                var identifier = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
-                if (identifier != null)
+                if (!identifier.IsEmpty)
                 {
-                    nodes.Add(new PropertyAccessorNode(identifier, _enableValidation));
+                    nodes.Add(new PropertyAccessorNode(identifier.ToString(), _enableValidation));
                     return State.AfterMember;
                 }
             }
@@ -119,18 +120,18 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             return State.End;
         }
 
-        private static State ParseAfterMember(CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private static State ParseAfterMember(ref CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            if (ParseMemberAccessor(r))
+            if (ParseMemberAccessor(ref r))
             {
                 return State.BeforeMember;
             }
-            else if (ParseStreamOperator(r))
+            else if (ParseStreamOperator(ref r))
             {
                 nodes.Add(new StreamNode());
                 return State.AfterMember;
             }
-            else if (PeekOpenBracket(r))
+            else if (PeekOpenBracket(ref r))
             {
                 return State.Indexer;
             }
@@ -138,19 +139,19 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             return State.End;
         }
 
-        private State ParseBeforeMember(CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private State ParseBeforeMember(ref CharacterReader r, IList<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            if (ParseOpenBrace(r))
+            if (ParseOpenBrace(ref r))
             {
                 return State.AttachedProperty;
             }
             else
             {
-                var identifier = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+                var identifier = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
-                if (identifier != null)
+                if (!identifier.IsEmpty)
                 {
-                    nodes.Add(new PropertyAccessorNode(identifier, _enableValidation));
+                    nodes.Add(new PropertyAccessorNode(identifier.ToString(), _enableValidation));
                     return State.AfterMember;
                 }
 
@@ -158,16 +159,16 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             }
         }
 
-        private State ParseAttachedProperty(CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private State ParseAttachedProperty(ref CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            var (ns, owner) = ParseTypeName(r);
+            var (ns, owner) = ParseTypeName(ref r);
 
             if (r.End || !r.TakeIf('.'))
             {
                 throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Invalid attached property name.");
             }
 
-            var name = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+            var name = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
             if (r.End || !r.TakeIf(')'))
             {
@@ -179,15 +180,15 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot parse a binding path with an attached property without a type resolver. Maybe you can use a LINQ Expression binding path instead?");
             }
 
-            var property = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.FindRegistered(_typeResolver(ns, owner), name);
+            var property = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.FindRegistered(_typeResolver(ns.ToString(), owner.ToString()), name.ToString());
 
             nodes.Add(new AvaloniaPropertyAccessorNode(property, _enableValidation));
             return State.AfterMember;
         }
 
-        private State ParseIndexer(CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private State ParseIndexer(ref CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            var args = ArgumentListParser.Parse(r, '[', ']');
+            var args = r.ParseArguments('[', ']');
 
             if (args.Count == 0)
             {
@@ -197,36 +198,35 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             nodes.Add(new StringIndexerNode(args));
             return State.AfterMember;
         }
-        
-        private State ParseElementName(CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+
+        private State ParseElementName(ref CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            var name = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+            var name = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
             if (name == null)
             {
                 throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Element name expected after '#'.");
             }
 
-            nodes.Add(new ElementNameNode(name));
+            nodes.Add(new ElementNameNode(name.ToString()));
             return State.AfterMember;
         }
 
-
-        private State ParseRelativeSource(CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
+        private State ParseRelativeSource(ref CharacterReader r, List<ExpressionNode> nodes)
         {
-            var mode = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+            var mode = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
-            if (mode == "self")
+            if (mode.Equals("self".AsSpan(), StringComparison.InvariantCulture))
             {
                 nodes.Add(new SelfNode());
             }
-            else if (mode == "parent")
+            else if (mode.Equals("parent".AsSpan(), StringComparison.InvariantCulture))
             {
                 Type ancestorType = null;
                 var ancestorLevel = 0;
-                if (PeekOpenBracket(r))
+                if (PeekOpenBracket(ref r))
                 {
-                    var args = ArgumentListParser.Parse(r, '[', ']', ';');
+                    var args = r.ParseArguments('[', ']', ';');
                     if (args.Count > 2 || args.Count == 0)
                     {
                         throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Too many arguments in RelativeSource syntax sugar");
@@ -240,14 +240,16 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
                         }
                         else
                         {
-                            var typeName = ParseTypeName(new CharacterReader(args[0]));
-                            ancestorType = _typeResolver(typeName.ns, typeName.typeName);
+                            var reader = new CharacterReader(args[0].AsSpan());
+                            var typeName = ParseTypeName(ref reader);
+                            ancestorType = _typeResolver(typeName.Namespace.ToString(), typeName.Type.ToString());
                         }
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        var typeName = ParseTypeName(new CharacterReader(args[0]));
-                        ancestorType = _typeResolver(typeName.ns, typeName.typeName);
+                        var reader = new CharacterReader(args[0].AsSpan());
+                        var typeName = ParseTypeName(ref reader);
+                        ancestorType = _typeResolver(typeName.Namespace.ToString(), typeName.Type.ToString());
                         ancestorLevel = int.Parse(args[1]);
                     }
                 }
@@ -261,56 +263,56 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             return State.AfterMember;
         }
         
-        private static (string ns, string typeName) ParseTypeName(CharacterReader r)
+        private static TypeName ParseTypeName(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
-            string ns, typeName;
-            ns = string.Empty;
-            var typeNameOrNamespace = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+            ReadOnlySpan<char> ns, typeName;
+            ns = ReadOnlySpan<char>.Empty;
+            var typeNameOrNamespace = r.ParseIdentifier();
 
             if (!r.End && r.TakeIf(':'))
             {
                 ns = typeNameOrNamespace;
-                typeName = IdentifierParser.Parse(r);
+                typeName = r.ParseIdentifier();
             }
             else
             {
                 typeName = typeNameOrNamespace;
             }
 
-            return (ns, typeName);
+            return new TypeName(ns, typeName);
         }
       
-        private static bool ParseNot(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseNot(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('!');
         }
 
-        private static bool ParseMemberAccessor(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseMemberAccessor(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('.');
         }
 
-        private static bool ParseOpenBrace(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseOpenBrace(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('(');
         }
 
-        private static bool PeekOpenBracket(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool PeekOpenBracket(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.Peek == '[';
         }
 
-        private static bool ParseStreamOperator(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseStreamOperator(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('^');
         }
 
-        private static bool ParseDollarSign(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseDollarSign(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('$');
         }
 
-        private static bool ParseSharp(CharacterReader r)
+        private static bool ParseSharp(ref CharacterReader r)
         {
             return !r.End && r.TakeIf('#');
         }
@@ -326,5 +328,23 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             Indexer,
             End,
         }
+
+        private readonly ref struct TypeName
+        {
+            public TypeName(ReadOnlySpan<char> ns, ReadOnlySpan<char> typeName)
+            {
+                Namespace = ns;
+                Type = typeName;
+            }
+
+            public readonly ReadOnlySpan<char> Namespace;
+            public readonly ReadOnlySpan<char> Type;
+
+            public void Deconstruct(out ReadOnlySpan<char> ns, out ReadOnlySpan<char> typeName)
+            {
+                ns = Namespace;
+                typeName = Type;
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorGrammar.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorGrammar.cs
index 014f08d995..214e61ae37 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorGrammar.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorGrammar.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 // Copyright (c) The Avalonia Project. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See licence.md file in the project root for full license information.
 
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Globalization;
-using Sprache;
+using Avalonia.Data.Core;
+using Avalonia.Utilities;
 
 // Don't need to override GetHashCode as the ISyntax objects will not be stored in a hash; the 
 // only reason they have overridden Equals methods is for unit testing.
@@ -11,123 +13,292 @@ using Sprache;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
 {
-    internal class SelectorGrammar
+    internal static class SelectorGrammar
     {
-        public static readonly Parser<char> CombiningCharacter = Parse.Char(
-            c =>
-            {
-                var cat = CharUnicodeInfo.GetUnicodeCategory(c);
-                return cat == UnicodeCategory.NonSpacingMark ||
-                       cat == UnicodeCategory.SpacingCombiningMark;
-            },
-            "Connecting Character");
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> ConnectingCharacter = Parse.Char(
-            c => CharUnicodeInfo.GetUnicodeCategory(c) == UnicodeCategory.ConnectorPunctuation,
-            "Connecting Character");
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> FormattingCharacter = Parse.Char(
-            c => CharUnicodeInfo.GetUnicodeCategory(c) == UnicodeCategory.Format,
-            "Connecting Character");
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> IdentifierStart = Parse.Letter.Or(Parse.Char('_'));
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> IdentifierChar = Parse
-            .LetterOrDigit
-            .Or(ConnectingCharacter)
-            .Or(CombiningCharacter)
-            .Or(FormattingCharacter);
-
-        public static readonly Parser<string> Identifier =
-            from start in IdentifierStart.Once().Text()
-            from @char in IdentifierChar.Many().Text()
-            select start + @char;
-
-        public static readonly Parser<string> Namespace =
-            from ns in Parse.Letter.Many().Text()
-            from bar in Parse.Char('|')
-            select ns;
-
-        public static readonly Parser<OfTypeSyntax> OfType =
-            from ns in Namespace.Optional()
-            from identifier in Identifier
-            select new OfTypeSyntax
-            {
-                TypeName = identifier,
-                Xmlns = ns.GetOrDefault(),
-            };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<NameSyntax> Name =
-            from hash in Parse.Char('#')
-            from identifier in Identifier
-            select new NameSyntax { Name = identifier };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> ClassStart = Parse.Char('_').Or(Parse.Letter);
-
-        public static readonly Parser<char> ClassChar = ClassStart.Or(Parse.Numeric);
-
-        public static readonly Parser<string> ClassIdentifier =
-            from start in ClassStart.Once().Text()
-            from @char in ClassChar.Many().Text()
-            select start + @char;
-
-        public static readonly Parser<ClassSyntax> StandardClass =
-            from dot in Parse.Char('.').Once()
-            from identifier in ClassIdentifier
-            select new ClassSyntax { Class = identifier };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<ClassSyntax> Pseduoclass =
-            from colon in Parse.Char(':').Once()
-            from identifier in ClassIdentifier
-            select new ClassSyntax { Class = ':' + identifier };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<ClassSyntax> Class = StandardClass.Or(Pseduoclass);
-
-        public static readonly Parser<PropertySyntax> Property =
-            from open in Parse.Char('[').Once()
-            from identifier in Identifier
-            from eq in Parse.Char('=').Once()
-            from value in Parse.CharExcept(']').Many().Text()
-            from close in Parse.Char(']').Once()
-            select new PropertySyntax { Property = identifier, Value = value };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<ChildSyntax> Child = Parse.Char('>').Token().Return(new ChildSyntax());
-
-        public static readonly Parser<DescendantSyntax> Descendant =
-            from child in Parse.WhiteSpace.Many()
-            select new DescendantSyntax();
-
-        public static readonly Parser<TemplateSyntax> Template =
-            from template in Parse.String("/template/").Token()
-            select new TemplateSyntax();
-
-        public static readonly Parser<IsSyntax> Is =
-            from function in Parse.String(":is(")
-            from type in OfType
-            from close in Parse.Char(')')
-            select new IsSyntax { TypeName = type.TypeName, Xmlns = type.Xmlns };
-
-        public static readonly Parser<ISyntax> SingleSelector =
-            OfType
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Is)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Name)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Class)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Property)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Child)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Template)
-            .Or<ISyntax>(Descendant);
-
-        public static readonly Parser<IEnumerable<ISyntax>> Selector = SingleSelector.Many().End();
-        
+        private enum State
+        {
+            Start,
+            Middle,
+            Colon,
+            Class,
+            Name,
+            CanHaveType,
+            Traversal,
+            TypeName,
+            Property,
+            Template,
+            End,
+        }
+
+        public static IEnumerable<ISyntax> Parse(string s)
+        {
+            var r = new CharacterReader(s.AsSpan());
+            var state = State.Start;
+            var selector = new List<ISyntax>();
+            while (!r.End && state != State.End)
+            {
+                ISyntax syntax = null;
+                switch (state)
+                {
+                    case State.Start:
+                        state = ParseStart(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Middle:
+                        state = ParseMiddle(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.CanHaveType:
+                        state = ParseCanHaveType(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Colon:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseColon(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Class:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseClass(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Traversal:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseTraversal(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.TypeName:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseTypeName(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Property:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseProperty(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Template:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseTemplate(ref r);
+                        break;
+                    case State.Name:
+                        (state, syntax) = ParseName(ref r);
+                        break;
+                }
+                if (syntax != null)
+                {
+                    selector.Add(syntax);
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (state != State.Start && state != State.Middle && state != State.End && state != State.CanHaveType)
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Unexpected end of selector");
+            }
+
+            return selector;
+        }
+
+        private static State ParseStart(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            r.SkipWhitespace();
+            if (r.End)
+            {
+                return State.End;
+            }
+
+            if (r.TakeIf(':'))
+            {
+                return State.Colon;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('.'))
+            {
+                return State.Class;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('#'))
+            {
+                return State.Name;
+            }
+            return State.TypeName;
+        }
+
+        private static State ParseMiddle(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            if (r.TakeIf(':'))
+            {
+                return State.Colon;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('.'))
+            {
+                return State.Class;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf(char.IsWhiteSpace) || r.Peek == '>')
+            {
+                return State.Traversal;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('/'))
+            {
+                return State.Template;
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('#'))
+            {
+                return State.Name;
+            }
+            return State.TypeName;
+        }
+
+        private static State ParseCanHaveType(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            if (r.TakeIf('['))
+            {
+                return State.Property;
+            }
+            return State.Middle;
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseColon(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            var identifier = r.ParseIdentifier();
+
+            if (identifier.IsEmpty)
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Expected class name or is selector after ':'.");
+            }
+
+            const string IsKeyword = "is";
+            if (identifier.SequenceEqual(IsKeyword.AsSpan()) && r.TakeIf('('))
+            {
+                var syntax = ParseType(ref r, new IsSyntax());
+                if (r.End || !r.TakeIf(')'))
+                {
+                    throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected ')', got {r.Peek}");
+                }
+
+                return (State.CanHaveType, syntax);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return (
+                    State.CanHaveType,
+                    new ClassSyntax
+                    {
+                        Class = ":" + identifier.ToString()
+                    });
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseTraversal(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            r.SkipWhitespace();
+            if (r.TakeIf('>'))
+            {
+                r.SkipWhitespace();
+                return (State.Middle, new ChildSyntax());
+            }
+            else if (r.TakeIf('/'))
+            {
+                return (State.Template, null);
+            }
+            else if (!r.End)
+            {
+                return (State.Middle, new DescendantSyntax());
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return (State.End, null);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseClass(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            var @class = r.ParseIdentifier();
+            if (@class.IsEmpty)
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected a class name after '.'.");
+            }
+
+            return (State.CanHaveType, new ClassSyntax { Class = @class.ToString() });
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseTemplate(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            var template = r.ParseIdentifier();
+            const string TemplateKeyword = "template";
+            if (!template.SequenceEqual(TemplateKeyword.AsSpan()))
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected 'template', got '{template.ToString()}'");
+            }
+            else if (!r.TakeIf('/'))
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, "Expected '/'");
+            }
+            return (State.Start, new TemplateSyntax());
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseName(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            var name = r.ParseIdentifier();
+            if (name.IsEmpty)
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected a name after '#'.");
+            }
+            return (State.CanHaveType, new NameSyntax { Name = name.ToString() });
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseTypeName(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            return (State.CanHaveType, ParseType(ref r, new OfTypeSyntax()));
+        }
+
+        private static (State, ISyntax) ParseProperty(ref CharacterReader r)
+        {
+            var property = r.ParseIdentifier();
+
+            if (!r.TakeIf('='))
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected '=', got '{r.Peek}'");
+            }
+
+            var value = r.TakeUntil(']');
+
+            r.Take();
+
+            return (State.CanHaveType, new PropertySyntax { Property = property.ToString(), Value = value.ToString() });
+        }
+
+        private static TSyntax ParseType<TSyntax>(ref CharacterReader r, TSyntax syntax)
+            where TSyntax : ITypeSyntax
+        {
+            ReadOnlySpan<char> ns = null;
+            ReadOnlySpan<char> type;
+            var namespaceOrTypeName = r.ParseIdentifier();
+
+            if (namespaceOrTypeName.IsEmpty)
+            {
+                throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Expected an identifier, got '{r.Peek}");
+            }
+
+            if (!r.End && r.TakeIf('|'))
+            {
+                ns = namespaceOrTypeName;
+                if (r.End)
+                {
+                    throw new ExpressionParseException(r.Position, $"Unexpected end of selector.");
+                }
+                type = r.ParseIdentifier();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                type = namespaceOrTypeName;
+            }
+
+            syntax.Xmlns = ns.ToString();
+            syntax.TypeName = type.ToString();
+            return syntax;
+        }
+
         public interface ISyntax
         {
         }
 
-        public class OfTypeSyntax : ISyntax
+        public interface ITypeSyntax
+        {
+            string TypeName { get; set; }
+
+            string Xmlns { get; set; }
+        }
+
+        public class OfTypeSyntax : ISyntax, ITypeSyntax
         {
             public string TypeName { get; set; }
 
-            public string Xmlns { get; set; }
+            public string Xmlns { get; set; } = string.Empty;
 
             public override bool Equals(object obj)
             {
@@ -136,11 +307,11 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
             }
         }
 
-        public class IsSyntax : ISyntax
+        public class IsSyntax : ISyntax, ITypeSyntax
         {
             public string TypeName { get; set; }
 
-            public string Xmlns { get; set; }
+            public string Xmlns { get; set; } = string.Empty;
 
             public override bool Equals(object obj)
             {
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorParser.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorParser.cs
index bb76387e61..94ce61b5c3 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorParser.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup/Markup/Parsers/SelectorParser.cs
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See licence.md file in the project root for full license information.
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Globalization;
+using Avalonia.Data.Core;
 using Avalonia.Styling;
 using Avalonia.Utilities;
-using Sprache;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
 {
@@ -36,79 +37,68 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Parsers
         /// <returns>The parsed selector.</returns>
         public Selector Parse(string s)
         {
-            var syntax = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(s);
+            var syntax = SelectorGrammar.Parse(s);
             var result = default(Selector);
 
             foreach (var i in syntax)
             {
-                var ofType = i as SelectorGrammar.OfTypeSyntax;
-                var @is = i as SelectorGrammar.IsSyntax;
-                var @class = i as SelectorGrammar.ClassSyntax;
-                var name = i as SelectorGrammar.NameSyntax;
-                var property = i as SelectorGrammar.PropertySyntax;
-                var child = i as SelectorGrammar.ChildSyntax;
-                var descendant = i as SelectorGrammar.DescendantSyntax;
-                var template = i as SelectorGrammar.TemplateSyntax;
-
-                if (ofType != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.OfType(_typeResolver(ofType.Xmlns, ofType.TypeName));
-                }
-                if (@is != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Is(_typeResolver(@is.Xmlns, @is.TypeName));
-                }
-                else if (@class != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Class(@class.Class);
-                }
-                else if (name != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Name(name.Name);
-                }
-                else if (property != null)
+                switch (i)
                 {
-                    var type = result?.TargetType;
 
-                    if (type == null)
-                    {
-                        throw new InvalidOperationException("Property selectors must be applied to a type.");
-                    }
+                    case SelectorGrammar.OfTypeSyntax ofType:
+                        result = result.OfType(_typeResolver(ofType.Xmlns, ofType.TypeName));
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.IsSyntax @is:
+                        result = result.Is(_typeResolver(@is.Xmlns, @is.TypeName));
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.ClassSyntax @class:
+                        result = result.Class(@class.Class);
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.NameSyntax name:
+                        result = result.Name(name.Name);
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.PropertySyntax property:
+                        {
+                            var type = result?.TargetType;
 
-                    var targetProperty = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.FindRegistered(type, property.Property);
+                            if (type == null)
+                            {
+                                throw new InvalidOperationException("Property selectors must be applied to a type.");
+                            }
 
-                    if (targetProperty == null)
-                    {
-                        throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot find '{property.Property}' on '{type}");
-                    }
+                            var targetProperty = AvaloniaPropertyRegistry.Instance.FindRegistered(type, property.Property);
 
-                    object typedValue;
+                            if (targetProperty == null)
+                            {
+                                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot find '{property.Property}' on '{type}");
+                            }
 
-                    if (TypeUtilities.TryConvert(
-                            targetProperty.PropertyType, 
-                            property.Value, 
-                            CultureInfo.InvariantCulture,
-                            out typedValue))
-                    {
-                        result = result.PropertyEquals(targetProperty, typedValue);
-                    }
-                    else
-                    {
-                        throw new InvalidOperationException(
-                            $"Could not convert '{property.Value}' to '{targetProperty.PropertyType}");
-                    }
-                }
-                else if (child != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Child();
-                }
-                else if (descendant != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Descendant();
-                }
-                else if (template != null)
-                {
-                    result = result.Template();
+                            object typedValue;
+
+                            if (TypeUtilities.TryConvert(
+                                    targetProperty.PropertyType,
+                                    property.Value,
+                                    CultureInfo.InvariantCulture,
+                                    out typedValue))
+                            {
+                                result = result.PropertyEquals(targetProperty, typedValue);
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                                    $"Could not convert '{property.Value}' to '{targetProperty.PropertyType}");
+                            }
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    case SelectorGrammar.ChildSyntax child:
+                        result = result.Child();
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.DescendantSyntax descendant:
+                        result = result.Descendant();
+                        break;
+                    case SelectorGrammar.TemplateSyntax template:
+                        result = result.Template();
+                        break;
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Avalonia.Benchmarks.csproj b/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Avalonia.Benchmarks.csproj
index a460ab5bf3..01729f4899 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Avalonia.Benchmarks.csproj
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Avalonia.Benchmarks.csproj
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp2.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.0</TargetFramework>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Markup/Parsing.cs b/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Markup/Parsing.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..71826986b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Benchmarks/Markup/Parsing.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+using Avalonia.Controls;
+using Avalonia.Markup.Parsers;
+using BenchmarkDotNet.Attributes;
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Text;
+
+namespace Avalonia.Benchmarks.Markup
+{
+    [MemoryDiagnoser]
+    public class Parsing
+    {
+        [Benchmark]
+        public void ParseComplexSelector()
+        {
+            var selectorString = "ListBox > TextBox /template/ TextBlock[IsFocused=True]";
+            var parser = new SelectorParser((ns, s) =>
+            {
+                switch (s)
+                {
+                    case "ListBox":
+                        return typeof(ListBox);
+                    case "TextBox":
+                        return typeof(TextBox);
+                    case "TextBlock":
+                        return typeof(TextBlock);
+                    default:
+                        return null;
+                }
+            });
+            var selector = parser.Parse(selectorString);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorGrammarTests.cs b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorGrammarTests.cs
index 62a9e80585..88fe5a2a12 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorGrammarTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorGrammarTests.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See licence.md file in the project root for full license information.
 
 using System.Linq;
+using Avalonia.Data.Core;
 using Avalonia.Markup.Parsers;
-using Sprache;
 using Xunit;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
@@ -13,17 +13,17 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button");
 
             Assert.Equal(
-                new[] { new SelectorGrammar.OfTypeSyntax { TypeName = "Button", Xmlns = null } },
+                new[] { new SelectorGrammar.OfTypeSyntax { TypeName = "Button", Xmlns = "" } },
                 result);
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void NamespacedOfType()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("x|Button").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("x|Button");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new[] { new SelectorGrammar.OfTypeSyntax { TypeName = "Button", Xmlns = "x" } },
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Name()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("#foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("#foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new[] { new SelectorGrammar.NameSyntax { Name = "foo" }, },
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Name()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button#foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button#foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -57,17 +57,17 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Is()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(":is(Button)").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse(":is(Button)");
 
             Assert.Equal(
-                new[] { new SelectorGrammar.IsSyntax { TypeName = "Button", Xmlns = null } },
+                new[] { new SelectorGrammar.IsSyntax { TypeName = "Button", Xmlns = "" } },
                 result);
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void Is_Name()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(":is(Button)#foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse(":is(Button)#foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void NamespacedIs_Name()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(":is(x|Button)#foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse(":is(x|Button)#foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Class()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(".foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse(".foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new[] { new SelectorGrammar.ClassSyntax { Class = "foo" } },
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Pseudoclass()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(":foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse(":foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new[] { new SelectorGrammar.ClassSyntax { Class = ":foo" } },
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Class()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button.foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button.foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[] 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Child_Class()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button > .foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button > .foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Child_Class_No_Spaces()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button>.foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button>.foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Descendant_Class()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button .foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button .foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Template_Class()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button /template/ .foo").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button /template/ .foo");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void OfType_Property()
         {
-            var result = SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("Button[Foo=bar]").ToList();
+            var result = SelectorGrammar.Parse("Button[Foo=bar]");
 
             Assert.Equal(
                 new SelectorGrammar.ISyntax[]
@@ -203,25 +203,25 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Namespace_Alone_Fails()
         {
-            Assert.Throws<ParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("ns|").ToList());
+            Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Parse("ns|"));
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void Dot_Alone_Fails()
         {
-            Assert.Throws<ParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(". dot").ToList());
+            Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Parse(". dot"));
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void Invalid_Identifier_Fails()
         {
-            Assert.Throws<ParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse("%foo").ToList());
+            Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Parse("%foo"));
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void Invalid_Class_Fails()
         {
-            Assert.Throws<ParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Selector.Parse(".%foo").ToList());
+            Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => SelectorGrammar.Parse(".%foo"));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorParserTests.cs b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorParserTests.cs
index f5a08b6d70..dba4573473 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorParserTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests/Parsers/SelectorParserTests.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 using System;
 using Avalonia.Controls;
+using Avalonia.Controls.Primitives;
 using Avalonia.Markup.Parsers;
+using Avalonia.Styling;
 using Xunit;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
@@ -10,7 +12,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.UnitTests.Parsers
         [Fact]
         public void Parses_Boolean_Property_Selector()
         {
-            var target = new SelectorParser((type, ns) => typeof(TextBlock));
+            var target = new SelectorParser((ns, type) => typeof(TextBlock));
             var result = target.Parse("TextBlock[IsPointerOver=True]");
         }
     }
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
index 0915684cf1..735d5c421a 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
   <Import Project="..\..\build\XUnit.props" />
   <Import Project="..\..\build\Rx.props" />
   <Import Project="..\..\build\Microsoft.Reactive.Testing.props" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\build\Sprache.props" />
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Markup\Avalonia.Markup.Xaml\Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Markup\Avalonia.Markup\Avalonia.Markup.csproj" />
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Parsers/PropertyParserTests.cs b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Parsers/PropertyParserTests.cs
index cae6449722..2a4468a750 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Parsers/PropertyParserTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Parsers/PropertyParserTests.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Parses_Name()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo");
+            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo".AsSpan());
             var (ns, owner, name) = target.Parse(reader);
 
             Assert.Null(ns);
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Parses_Owner_And_Name()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar");
+            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar".AsSpan());
             var (ns, owner, name) = target.Parse(reader);
 
             Assert.Null(ns);
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Parses_Namespace_Owner_And_Name()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("foo:Bar.Baz");
+            var reader = new CharacterReader("foo:Bar.Baz".AsSpan());
             var (ns, owner, name) = target.Parse(reader);
 
             Assert.Equal("foo", ns);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Parses_Owner_And_Name_With_Parentheses()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("(Foo.Bar)");
+            var reader = new CharacterReader("(Foo.Bar)".AsSpan());
             var (ns, owner, name) = target.Parse(reader);
 
             Assert.Null(ns);
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Parses_Namespace_Owner_And_Name_With_Parentheses()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("(foo:Bar.Baz)");
+            var reader = new CharacterReader("(foo:Bar.Baz)".AsSpan());
             var (ns, owner, name) = target.Parse(reader);
 
             Assert.Equal("foo", ns);
@@ -73,9 +73,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Empty_String()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("");
 
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader(ReadOnlySpan<char>.Empty)));
             Assert.Equal(0, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Expected property name.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -84,9 +83,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Only_Whitespace()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("  ");
 
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("  ".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(0, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ' '.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -95,9 +93,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Leading_Whitespace()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader(" Foo");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader(" Foo".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(0, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ' '.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -106,9 +103,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Trailing_Whitespace()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo ");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo ".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(3, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ' '.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -117,9 +113,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Invalid_Property_Name()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("123");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("123".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(0, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected '1'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -128,9 +123,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Trailing_Junk()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo%");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo%".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(3, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected '%'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -139,9 +133,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Invalid_Property_Name_After_Owner()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo.123");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo.123".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(4, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected '1'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -150,9 +143,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Whitespace_Between_Owner_And_Name()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo. Bar");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo. Bar".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(4, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ' '.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -161,9 +153,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Too_Many_Segments()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar.Baz");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar.Baz".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(8, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected '.'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -172,9 +163,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Too_Many_Namespaces()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("foo:bar:Baz");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("foo:bar:Baz".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(8, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ':'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -183,9 +173,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Parens_But_No_Owner()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("(Foo)");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("(Foo)".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(1, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Expected property owner.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -194,9 +183,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Parens_And_Namespace_But_No_Owner()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("(foo:Bar)");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("(foo:Bar)".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(1, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Expected property owner.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -205,9 +193,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Missing_Close_Parens()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("(Foo.Bar");
-
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("(Foo.Bar".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(8, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Expected ')'.", ex.Message);
         }
@@ -216,9 +203,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Parsers
         public void Fails_With_Unexpected_Close_Parens()
         {
             var target = new PropertyParser();
-            var reader = new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar)");
 
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(reader));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<ExpressionParseException>(() => target.Parse(new CharacterReader("Foo.Bar)".AsSpan())));
             Assert.Equal(7, ex.Column);
             Assert.Equal("Unexpected ')'.", ex.Message);
         }