If one wants to go on living, one must evolve. Before, when we composed, we would start by a series of music themes. Once created, we would hire writers and lyricists to make up the text and the story line. I was the first to do this backwards with 'Man of La Mancha.'
Not exactly what the world was looking for, a musical on 'Don Quixote.' It was required reading in high school.
There's more musical freedom on Madison Avenue than anywhere else. It's an Eden for a composer.