@William said:
Just a pen, a bottle of ink, some parchment, and a brain...
Hehe, now you're talking........
Is three out of four ok?
As for the Messiah, there's a lot of works that took little time to complete, because the composers were a) talented, and b) needed to eat, c) driven.
I will add here that writing, be it real or virtual, is a different proposition to performing (be it real or virtual). Computers can help make our written work look 'tidy', but performing with them is a different kettle of squid, and it's in that category that many of us are still learning. I dare say that many colleagues here could notate a sizable work in a fairly short time.
Handel had the advantage of being able to summon an orchestra at short notice, and not have to play all the instruments at once, himself. I think it's amusing that we're using such powerful music to determine what's the best direction, writing or not. It doesn't matter. Whatever the medium or workflow may be, it's the end result that counts.
I like my parchment because i guess i'm a bit old fashioned, and i feel some sense of.....right, when jotting notes. That's ridiculous of course, because parchment is just another medium for communication, and storage. But still..........
For me it's parchment first. But there have been occasions when i've written into the box, letting the mind roam free, and seeing what happens. And sometimes, i've been almost pleasantly surprised at the result.
But then i immediately dash away and write it on paper.
As civilised composers do........
Regards,
Alex. [[:|]] [H]