In Professor C. V. Stanford's opinion the art of composition can be
cultivated, but never acquired. He composes according to the mood in
which he happens to be, and never keeps to any fixed rule or time.
As to composers working under pressure, he imagines that must depend
greatly upon the temperament of the composer. He expresses no opinion
as to which he considers his best work, but says: "That is for the
future to determine and individual tastes to decide."