Stravinsky on composition

“For me, as a creative musician, composition is a daily function that I am compelled to discharge. I compose because I am made for that and cannot do otherwise … I am far from saying that there is no such thing as inspiration; quite the opposite. It is found as a driving force in every kind of musical activity … But that force is only brought into action by effort, and that effort is work. Just as appetite comes by eating, so work bring inspiration, if inspiration is not discernible at the beginning. But it is not simply inspiration that counts. It is the result of inspiration – that is, the composition.”

– Igor Stravinsky.

Cited in: Nettl, Paul (1969) The Book of Musical Documents. New York: Greenwood Press, pp.324-5.

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