When I think of the circumstances under which Mozart would compose music, I have a hard time comprehending how he managed to be as amazingly productive as he was. His performance schedule was unrelenting, as he would often play for weeks on end, every single night without a break. During the days he would compose, but his nights were late and his mornings early. He had children, one of which was a toddler while Mozart was working on his great operas of 1786 and 1787. He no doubt could be noisy and hard to handle at times as all children are. Yet Mozart managed to complete an enormous body of work, much of which is of the highest quality. Astounding.
As a composer myelf, I wonder just how this man found the time to just listen to the music inside. I have a feeling with his amazing production he had music on his mind at virtually all times. I however, bein far less gifted than he, like to sit quietly or take a stroll. I don't handle outside distractions terribly well when trying to listen to the music inside me. I also like to sit at the piano so I can play some of what I'm hearing. I cannot even imagine Beethoven's frustration with not being able to play back and hear the music inside of him. Legend has it he used to take a stick in his mouth and rest it against the piano so he could at least feel the vibrations the sound made while he played.
The important thing is to always take time to listen - to really listen to the music inside of you. Some people can work within activity and bustle as Mozart did. Others such as Mahler and Brahms need silence. We are need to find the style that best serves our creative process.
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