Concentration and Distraction

How do you write a choral piece that is singable by amateur choirs? By sticking to some traditional techniques that they are comfortable with and can latch on to. But how do you create something new and original while adhering to a certain amount of these tried and true traditional bits so that no one freaks out, and yet still make sure you are not dumbing down to your singers or your audience, while still exploring some fresh territory, being true to your inner voice and your heart? This is where I am now, and as usual, the easiest way out of the maze is to relax, follow the text, imagine the choir in rehearsal, and imagine them and the audience at the premiere. 

When the in-the-moment of process of creating art with all of the above being considered is sailing on, the music flows. I can go between and hour and three hours at a sitting before the distraction comes, and I believe the distractions are good.

My current favourite distraction is an ant that enters and exits my computer at will all day. There is a bug in the system, no there isn't, yes there is, no there isn't, yes there is. Once distracted, my ears pick up the outside instead of the inside. Jets heading for JFK circle outside my window about every eight minutes - some hum and some whale. Car alarms - how come you can't download new car alarms like ringtones? Now someone is singing (there is always someone singing around here, and it always sounds great). Now thunder - I prefer that to the jets - oh that wasn't thunder, that was my stomach. Gotta go eat and then get back in the moment.