To me a musical genius might just be someone who had an extra-ordinary natural ability which related to "music". So there are some classical composers who would count because they had an understanding of music that worked like math or science. They were able to invent something very quickly or efficiently that no one else could. To be a true genius, I think you have to be a bit of a freak. Able to do something with your brain which can't be learned.
That's hard to define, because some lyricists might be geniuses for their ability to communicate something greater than the literal meanings of their words.
And off the top of my head I can't think of any modern musicians who I would count as geniuses.... Maybe Andy McKee, but you could probably learn to do what he does too if you spent as much time at it....
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