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| Posted By : KigD - 3/29/2002 5:12 PM |
I'm just wondering if anyone knows what program professional composers use. Or do they just write down on paper and it becomes a masterpiece?
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| Posted By : GT - 3/29/2002 7:00 PM |
Danny:
>Or do they just write down on paper and it becomes a masterpiece?
In the cases of the great composers, it may seem that way, but believe me, there is a great deal of work in the creative process that will never be apparent to the casual listener.
I can only speak for myself here, but any time I'm doing a composition or arrangement, I start pencil (not pen, notice) and staff paper, scrawling ideas down until I get them worked out.
But I would think that everyone on this Forum has his or her own way of working.
There's no easy way to write a masterpiece (unless your name is Mozart). You just need to find the system of working that is most comfortable for you.
Cheers.
Gary
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| Posted By : Dan Powers - 3/30/2002 4:26 AM |
The last time I had anything to say on this topic, I was still advocating the pencil and paper method. That was maybe a couple of years ago. Since then, I've changed my habits.
I guess it started when I got a commission to write a wind quintet (which I called "Impulse"), but had a ridiculously close deadline for it. To save time, I decided to try doing it all in Finale, bypassing the pencil draft stage that I'd always used up to then. To my surprise, I found that doing it all in Finale from the start worked really well for me, and I was able to finish the ten minute piece in just over a month. I think it really helped to get playback at any time I wanted. The disadvantage, of course, is that I'm tied to the computer, whereas with the pencil and paper method I can work anywhere. Lately I've been using both methods, writing down ideas and rough drafts as they occur to me, then taking them to Finale and working them out.
So far I've composed several chamber works and two orchestral pieces (including my Second Symphony) on Finale. Most of them are on my website in case anyone wants to check them out.
Dan Powers
www.swanswingpress.com
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