[Ethereality]

Wagner composed at the piano, in a trial and error process (that he was somewhat ashamed of). But that's probably why he was able to write music so ahead of his time harmonically. Bach wrote great music, but he strictly "colored within the lines", and never pushed the boundaries of music in the way that "messy" composers like Beethoven and Wagner did. Beethoven banged away at the keys even long after he went deaf.

Is this why Symphony 9 sounds to me so dissonant and sometimes too unbearable and odd to listen to? I'm a composer but I don't always study music that disinterests me.

 

[Xisten267]

"My habit, even when I'm composing instrumental music, is to always have the whole in mind." - Ludwig van Beethoven.

 

[Ethereality]

That sounds like a quote one would simply make up about Beethoven, because it's so clear and true! A given. When I'm channeling Beethoven in composition I focus on the whole scheme and idea: Cohesion. This rule applies to his movements, but many works of his also have overall cohesion, an obvious one the 5th symphony and its triple note theme.