Robert Blake

I can answer two of your questions: I) Manuscript Paper That I Use: I like to compose with size A3 landscape paper with 16 or 18 staves with paper that works best with fountain pen or even dip pen. I used to use pencil but it does not give you a dark enough mark and using ink fills a sort of artistic need of mine. Also by not using pencil, I do not waste time erasing like I used to. Although proficient with computer, I only use computer when the work is done. Novello (available from musicroom.com and sheetmusicplus.com) makes an excellent 10, 16, 26, etc. staves per page that works wonderfully (40 pages per pad) whether sketching a continuity draft or for a composing a work. Also from England is the "Musician's Manuscript" by Manchester Music Exchange which has 18 staves per size A3 page (stave size is smaller than Novello) which I like to use only for the final manuscript (you can buy from Boosey and Hawks or Manchester Music Exchange). In regards to sketching beginning ideas, I like Clairefontaine's size A4 stave pads (it sort of fits in a standard 3 ring binder). Of course with paper making not like it used to (i.e. paper that blots when you write with liquid ink), there is also a device called the "Fidolino" which lets you make staves on any type of paper, such as art paper. You put ink in the pad and roll it on paper. It comes in a variety of stave sizes and can be purchased from arc-verona.co.uk. II. Brown Ink As far as ink goes, I like black Auora ink but I have seen brown fountain pen ink by J. Herbin available at pendemonium.com. Hope this is of help to you and anyone else out there.