> 1) principles specific to the music itself which i am most interested in and involved with: which goes on no matter how #2 pans out?
>
> or
>
> 2) principles specific to making a useful/meaningful/helpful computer
> program that makes such effort worth while (meaning that it does exactly
> what "i" want it to)... in that particular area/environment (Computer
> programming)?

Both I guess... although 1) may be a somewhat off-topic in Squeak-dev, 
while 2) would be food for thought for everyone doing computer-music and 
so more appropriate here.

best,

Stef