From Forests to Formulas: Contextual Examination of Composers’ Sources, Materials, and Practices Involving Creative Insight

Abstract

This thesis reports the findings of an exploratory, mixed-methods study of the information phenomena associated with musical composition. It employs a semi-structured interview and a survey among participants of the current musical composition community, the majority of which resided in the greater Toronto area. The guiding question is “What are the information activities and resources of composers as they strive to compose new music?” During research, the concept of creative insight, emerged as a necessary supplement to previous inquiries into composers' inspiration. The findings explore the varied sources of creative insight utilized by composers; differing uses of creative insight, Creative Insight Storage Units (CISUs), composers' record keeping devices; creative insight in embodied form; and the varying information needs of composers at different stages in their profession. The report closes with the introduction of a new model of creative information phenomena in musical composition, and questions for future research.