Truisms of the Profession

most likely where artists get the reputation for doing nothing...
"no, i really do have to get home so i can sit in front of the computer for six hours in case something happens".
sounds like total b.s. of course to people who are either 'working' or 'not working'.

I once read an anecdote about Mendelssohn written by someone who had interrupted him while he was at work composing. According to the visitor, Mendelssohn said he'd only be a few minutes, and for the visitor to sit there till he finished the section he was on. The visitor noted that Mendelssohn was writing a multi-part piece DOWN the score page, ie completing one bar for each of the parts before moving onto the next bar.

This seems to me to indicate that Mendelssohn had the piece entirely worked out in his head before writing any of it down. This is how many mathematicians work -- working out proofs mentally before committing pen to paper. Working it all out in one's head, of course, before writing anything, would not necessarily make composition easier.

"I am at my desk each morning at 9 o'clock, and my muse has learned to be prompt." -- Tchaikovsky

Sounds like VT had heard this one too.

KG replies: I can hear some places in Tchaikovsky's music where his muse evidently took the day off.

Sometimes I wonder if Tchaikovsky had a muse at all, or just a cute little pixie.

KG replies: I don't know if Tchaikovsky's cleaning lady did windows, but I know his muse didn't do development sections.

Supposedly, Saint-Saëns said that he wrote music like an apple tree produces apples. I know that there's got to be a joke in there somewhere!