Mats Norrman replies to Mimi replying to me ...

>Mimi Ezust <[log in to unmask]> replies to Bill Pirkle:
>
>>I would hazard a guess that when most composers have something in mind,
>>they are not thinking in symbols, but instead thinking in SOUNDS.
>
>I would hazard a guess that when most composers have something in mind,
>they are not thinking in symbols, but instead thinking in FORMS.

I agree with all that.  I think the issue on the thread was sketching
(writing down) the stuff, which would require some symbols - words are
symbols as is music notation.  And, I had asked the list to comment on
how it may be sketched, offering some symbolic notation as a possibility.
Certainly Beethoven thought in sounds but as a sight reader and notator
of music, I expect the symbols of music notation quickly came to mind.

This sidesteps the subject at hand - "how would one sketch a symphony?"
so that they could see the "whole" in their mind as B.  said he did.

Bill Pirkle