Summary
When we think of music composition as the invention of music in general then the term covers everything, including music that has been handed down through centuries-old oral traditions. Everything which emerges from the human brain is in a certain sense ‘invented’ and ‘made up’, and thus composed, even if it is not always written down. At the same time, this also encapsulates the riddle of composing. How is such an abstract expression as music thought up? Where do the sounds that a composer invents come from? Is it merely inspiration? Or is there more to the process of composition?
The mysteries of inspiration have been discussed previously. Nevertheless, I would like to approach the subject of composing here, even though it is mainly a personal vision. This cannot be otherwise. Numerous composers have tried to explain or put into words their way of working, but the moments at which the best and most beautiful musical thoughts emerge from their pen or computer remain an enigma. Were they inspired or did they inspire themselves? Did the Holy Spirit descend upon them: Veni creator spiritus…? Or did they evoke numerous thoughts and ideas in themselves, which eventually led to a composition created through skill and hard work? Is inspiration really that important for a successful creation? Should one wait for it, or does it have to be enforced? If the former is represented by a dove, as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, then in the latter we can imagine Moses, who beat a rock with a stick until water began to flow.
In an earlier chapter I referred to the symbol of the dove on the shoulder of Pope Gregory: the Holy Spirit helping the Church Father while creating the liturgical melodies which were given his name, Gregorian chant or plainchant. Fiction or reality, very few artists have been able to put the miracle of creative revelation into words. Paul Hindemith wrote the following about this in 1952, in A Composer's World. Horizons and Limitations:
We all know the impression of a very heavy flash of lightning in the night. Within a second's time we see a broad landscape, not only in its general outlines but with every detail.
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- Meaning of Music , pp. 135 - 146Publisher: Amsterdam University PressPrint publication year: 2016