The song of the spheres in their revolutions
Is what men sing with lute and voice.
As we all are members of Adam,
We have heard these melodies in Paradise.
Though earth and water have cast their veil upon us,
We retain faint reminiscences of these heavenly songs;
But while we are thus shrouded by gross earthly veils,
How can the tones of the dancing spheres reach us?

-- Rumi
(In The Mystics of Islam,
edited by Reynold A. Nicholson)

I do think that a lot off artists seem to be in touch with mystical forces, and that they draw on some kind of vision and divine inspiration.  However, I think there is a romantic idea about the artist who dashes things off in a great blaze of enlightenment.  In fact, there probably was such a blaze, at some point in the process, if the artist was inspired, but the realization often takes a tremendous amount of skill, and practice, and hard work.

-- J. Carter Brown
(in Inspired Lives:  Exploring the Role of Faith and Spirituality in the Lives of Extraordinary People, edited by Joanna Laufer & Kenneth S. Lewis)

Music and art are mysteries.  One wonders how inspiration can come through vessels that are human and imperfect.

-- Rabbi Alexander Schindler
(in Inspired Lives:  Exploring the Role of Faith and Spirituality in the Lives of Extraordinary People, edited by Joanna Laufer and Kenneth S. Lewis)

Breath is at the heart of singing, for it is the singer's breath, voice, and spirit that produce the song.  Those who chant or sing spiritual songs tell of entering into a deeper level of worship, understanding, freedom, and joy when they sing, which deepens their faith. . . . . And just as breath is not only inside us but comes out of us as well, the breath of God that inspires us can come forth and move others.  We have all felt joy and freedom and spirit come bursting out of a singer's song.  We respond not just to notes or melody, but to the passion in both, to the life that is in the music.

-- Joanna Laufer and Kenneth S. Lewis
(Inspired Lives:  Exploring the Role of Faith and Spirituality in the Lives of Extraordinary People)