Logic of Theory

[martinzufall]

I agree with Sor and Majesty about balance. The best composers know how to bridge these two schools of creative process to make pieces both inspirational and with substance.

If you are interested in the creative process check out some sketchbooks of famous composers (Beethoven and Stravinsky come to mind but there are many more). There you will see how ideas are taken from impulse to finished product by using both theory and trial and error.

[MaestroX]

Originally Posted by martinzufall

If you are interested in the creative process check out some sketchbooks of famous composers (Beethoven and Stravinsky come to mind but there are many more). There you will see how ideas are taken from impulse to finished product by using both theory and trial and error.

Where can you get hold of these? They would be very interesting to see. Every composer has an individual way of working, so its interesting to see how some of the great worked.

[Shiva]

I think a balance is the key, theres no point in having lots of theory if you have no way to express it. Same vice versa, creativity is useless unless you have a means to express it.

[martinzufall]

Originally Posted by MaestroX

Where can you get hold of these? They would be very interesting to see. Every composer has an individual way of working, so its interesting to see how some of the great worked.

Obviously the originals are protected in archives and museums but you can find publications with reproductions as well as information in the deciphering of said sketches (Beethoven had horrendous penmanship). Your best bet is to get into the music section of a university library (one with a decent music department). That is where I ran across them. I looked on Amazon and they are offered but...man...I don't have that kind of money.

I found some stuff for Beethoven online:
http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/si...php//portal_en

Here is one for Mozart:
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/accessiblettp.html

Google is our friend...sometimes.

[Shiva]

Thanks for posting the links to these. I think its amazing to the composer's works in their own writing.

A thing that dawned on me today is that many people try to put everything in a box. I've seen books that try teach people how to paint and draw like the masters of the art world. How many people that buy these books actually get anywhere near the standard that the book claims to teach? Probably no more than you can count on one hand.
Sometimes it I think it comes down to raw passion determination and talent.