How does music come into being? Composers do not merely put onto paper what higher powers send their way, nor do they practice a simple craft whose rules could also be taken over by algorithms. They respond to a deep fundamental need of people to fill silence with organized sounds. Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf vividly explains, without using musical examples, how music entered the world and how new music is created. He dispels the clichés of genius worship and simple craftsmanship, showcasing the diversity of approaches: even the contemporaries of Mozart and Beethoven had extremely different artistic and self-understandings. Additionally, pop and jazz emerge in ways that are entirely different from classical works. Mahnkopf illustrates how the profession of composer has evolved, how musical progress occurs, and what music of the future might look like. A book for all music lovers who wish to better understand their passion.