The ebb and flow of daily life is one of those things I know I can’t control, but at times I am compelled to describe it. I’m not a woman of great, eloquent thoughts, and forming those I do have into words is even more difficult. Creating a musical “painting” or “novel” allows me to turn those thoughts, as unformed as they are, into something real and lasting.
For me, writing words about thoughts falls into a different category of mental maneuvers than speaking about them and sometimes this is not only easier, but necessary. I’ve never used a forum like a blog for this purpose before and suddenly I appreciate it very much.
I’ve been thinking a great deal about other composers I admire and wondering why and how they do what they do. I’m hoping to talk to some of them about the process of composing – not necessarily the mechanics or theory behind the notes – but rather the thoughts that get them started and move them from idea to idea.
Authors – Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens
Poets – Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, J. Otis Powell
Jazz Composers – Duke Ellington, Jim McNeely, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter
other composers – Beethoven!
