Re: Is lilypond really suitable for composing?

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi David,

>> 100% in agreement. Developing that inner ear is immeasurably valuable, but 
>> it takes effort, and that effort is made only when there's motivation. 
>> Having only oneself to rely on provides the context for that motivation. 
>> (HA! Can you guess MY occupation?)
> 
> I call hogwash.  Developing inner ear has nothing to do with using pencil & 
> paper vs using notation software.  A more meaningful distinction is whether 
> you are composing by ear or not:
> 
> * If you are plucking out every note and chord at the piano, then notating 
> the ones you like with pencil & paper (or into notation software), you are 
> NOT developing your inner ear.

Not strictly true: the fundamental piano sound has a very different attack, 
sustain, decay, and release than just about any other instrument, whereas a 
mockup ("using notation software" for that purpose) can be made to sound 
"exactly" like the instrument(s) in question. So at the piano, you *must* 
develop your inner ear in order to get past the piano sound to the sound of the 
actual instrumentation in question.

Granted, one develops one’s inner ear *more* by writing without playback of any 
sort (at the piano or in software), but since you started splitting hairs, I 
thought I’d join in the fun…  :^p

> I agree that the processes of composition, arranging/orchestration and 
> engraving are distinct, and should be approached as such.  And I agree that 
> developing your inner ear is crucial.  But you can do all of that with the 
> help of notation software, or not.

+1

Cheers,
Kieren.
________________________________

Kieren MacMillan, composer
‣ website: www.kierenmacmillan.info
‣ email: address@hidden