Question

In these paragraphs Copland
a.
compares composers to tradespeople.
c.
interprets the meaning of music for an audience of laymen.
b.
analyzes the role of inspiration to a composer.
d.
classifies musical works as inspired or uninspired.

Answer 1

we need to see the paragraphs

Answer 2

Most people want to know how things are made. They frankly admit, however, that they feel completely at sea when it comes to understanding how a piece of music is made. Where a composer begins, how he manages to keep going—in fact, how and where he learns his trade—all are shrouded in impenetrable darkness. The composer, in short, is a man of mystery to most people, and the composer’s workshop an unapproachable ivory tower.

One of the first things most people want to hear discussed in relation to composing is the question of inspiration. They find it difficult to believe that composers are not as preoccupied with that question as they had supposed. The layman always finds it hard to realize how natural it is for the composer to compose. He has a tendency to put himself into the position of the composer and to visualize the problems involved, including that of inspiration, from the perspective of the layman. He forgets that composing to a composer is like fulfilling a natural function. It is like eating or sleeping. It is something that the composer happens to have been born to do; and, because of that, it loses the character of a special virtue in the composer’s eyes.

The composer, therefore, confronted with the question of inspiration, does not say to himself: “Do I feel inspired?” He says to himself: “ Do I feel like composing today?” And if he feels like composing, he does. It is more or less like saying to yourself: “Do I feel sleepy?” If you feel sleepy, you go to sleep. If you don’t feel sleepy, you stay up. If the composer doesn’t feel like composing, he doesn’t compose. It’s as simple as that.