Because of this, many classical composers chose to write violin concertos in D major.

Rather than follow the program literally, the composer chose to depict moods and feelings suggested by the text.

"I tend to think a composer chose a setting for a definite reason," she said.

Then the composers chose the specific artist that they would work with.

Equally intriguing, though, is what exactly lyricists and composers choose to write about nowadays.

The composer can also choose to treat the text fluidly, in a manner more like music than narrative.

The composer may also choose to write for only one instrument, in which case this is called a solo.

Each composer chose a fugue from Bach's set of 18 and wrote a work that would precede, follow or, in one case, surround it.

Bach used the past; these two composers (and so many of their American colleagues) have chosen to live in it.

Both were relieved to see that the composer did not choose to argue the point.