Someone on this list said Wagner and Tchaikovsky didn't have perfect pitch.
Does anyone know how they composed.  Did they have good enough relative
pitch to compose away from the piano or did they completely have to rely
on the piano? I arrange music off the radio for the high school band.  I
have good relative pitch so I can work at the desk.  But I have a keyboard
right beside me so I can check my work to make sure it sounds right.

I don't think having perfect pitch can make one composer greater than one
who doesn't have perfect pitch.  It just makes work easier.  When music
came to Mozart, he could write it down no matter where he was.  Just give
him a pencil and some staff paper.  I can do that a little, but it might
not be in the right key.

Jeremey McMillan