As opposed to? :) hehehe. I write all of my pieces from scratch.

Regards,
Sean

I personally, am not inspired by other composers music nearly as much as what I am vivid imagery that I see in my head when I am inspired by the situation that requires the composition. For example, one of my pieces was written for a Civil War game. I get inspiration from seeing images in my mind of the war occuring.

Sean

Actually, I thought about it, and if ANY composer has inspired me a lot, it has definetly been Debussy, along with Van Halen and Meatloaf. (Yanni a little as well.) But other than Debussy, I cannot say that I am directly nspired by composers, thats not to say that a small handful of pieces aren't inspiring to me though.

Beeson

That is why I replied with the thing about Debussy, and then the comment about the other pieces. Of course I am inspired by the Fanfare of Coplands, and even nearly everything that Griffes wrote. I didn't mean to come across as saying that none of them inspired me.

I just don't listen to a Mahler Symphony and get this feeling of writting a symphony. Most music that inspires me is music that I hear on accident. Hearing Chopin inspires me, but not all of his pieces do. Some people have composers that everything they do inspires them, a composer they can relate to. Mine, as stated is Debussy.

I am not inspired by the people, but by their music. I am not sure what you want me to say. I don't sit and listen to stacks of CD's. I don't sit and study scores for hours. I grew up listening to Van Halen (I was only 6 when I was listening to 1984 : ) Some of the harmonies used in that album have helped me develop. That is why I used the word "directly". I haven't picked a composer to listen to. I haven't picked a composer to model my life off of like some people do. I also listened to Scott Joplin, Meatloaf, Yanni, a TON of Catholic Literaure Music (I have been an accompanist since I was 15 for Catholic Masses), a lot of video game soundtrack, NAS, Garth Brooks, 60's rock, John Philip Sousa, and Philip Glass. ( I grew up in the mid 80's) The list goes on. I listened to all kinds of things.

I was not even introduced to some of the great classical composers until I was 19 and 20. I hadn't listened to a Mahler Sympony until this year. I sat and listened to it. My friend stated, Mahler is a genius. I agree 100%. Sitting with a score in front of me, the incredible amount of skill is evident. But listening to his music doesn't give me goosebumps.

I should also mention that right now, in my car, I have 12 80's CD's, one Jeff Foxworthy CD, one Steve Martin CD, one Coast to Coast CD, and a CD of miscellaneous tracks. (Including some Toto).

Perhaps I am a "bad" composer, and it most likely comes across as that. I enjoy all the music I listen to, and in fact may be inspired by great composers music, but I may not realize it consciously. That is all I was trying to say :)! I am sure that it has inspired me, and I am sure that it is evident in my music, (Debussy is CLEARLY evident in some of my more classical works).

So apologies to those who I peeved off. My statement was mis-stated. It isn't like I don't need previous composers or the hundreds of years of music they have left behind.

I understand 100%. :) Coming from a modern conservatory, where very simple misunderstandings like this are not something uncommon. I just need to explain myself better anyway next time.

Cheers,
Sean Beeson