composing music, designing embroidery

The other day we were listening to a choral work on the radio. As I listened, I tried to fathom how anyone could write such music (I cannot read music, though I very much enjoy singing). With all those voices coming in at different spots, singing different things, how could anyone conceive of that?

In an effort to understand, I tried to liken it to my design process. Do I EVER envisage a completed embroidery before I start? No, of course not. So would the composer have imagined the completed choral work in his head, and then written it down as is? I feel that it is unlikely.

Normally, when I design, I start with an idea or two, and build on them. I start with the bare bones and then add to it, take bits away, and keep working until I am happy with the result.

So its quite probable that the composer also started with an idea or two – maybe a snatch of melody or a harmony – and then started to build. Maybe he sat down at a piano and worked on bits and put it all together. Then maybe he got some people to sing it, and then made further changes. That, to me, seems to be a more achievable process for composing.

But what about people like Beethoven, who is said to have composed some of is most beautiful works after he went deaf? That just boggles the mind. The closest thing I can think of to that in my line of work, would be designing an embroidery in colour which is perfect and harmonious, while not being able to see colour.

So I guess that’s when we know that we are encountering real genius!