There is a big difference between those who create and those who recreate. Pulling those notes, chords, rhythms and harmonies out of thin air requires skills that are both learned as well as instinctive. In this chapter, I examine the relationship between the composer and the performer.

How do they work together, especially if the person who wrote the piece of music is no longer alive? What responsibility does the conductor have when presenting new or unfamiliar music to the audience? How can a composer have a direct relationship with the public outside of the concert hall?

Perhaps you have other thoughts, some that may not even pertain to what we call classical music.