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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
A reporter had heard that Frank Marshall always kept a chess board next to his bed (where he slept with his beautiful wife). Marshall had to admit that the rumor was true. He explained that he might have an idea, while in bed. And he would like to check out the idea on the chess board.
I was playing a postal chess game, in about 1965. I had just mailed my postcard to one opponent. I was lying awake in bed, in the dark. And I thought, "That move loses a piece." I turned on the light, and got out the chess board. Sure enough, the move that I had just copied out of MCO (Modern Chess Openings) was a mistake that lost a piece. The next morning, I waited at the mailbox, for the mailman. I asked him if I could have my postcard back. He said, "Sure, if you can find it." I found it, and corrected the mistake. I ended up losing the game later, anyway. Oh well.
Speaking of ideas in bed, here are a couple of stories (maybe true, maybe not) that I have heard: Supposedly, John Phillip Sousa thought up the final (highly recognizable) melody to Stars and Stripes Forever in a dream. Supposedly Felix Mendelssohn (He used to be called Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy) thought up the initial melody of his Violin Concerto in a dream.
I once thought that I composed a beautiful melody, in a dream. When I woke up, I remembered the melody. I suspected that the melody was one that someone else had composed. But, I couldn't remember where I had heard it before. It turned out to be from Schubert's Trout Quintet. Oh well.
Speaking of Mendelssohn, his sister Fanny may have been the greatest female composer ever. He seems to have helped discourage her from making composing a career. Their friend, Clara Schumann may have been the greatest female composer ever. I have not heard any music by either Clara or Fanny.