The need for musicians in classical music was because they didn't have any other way to play it. I imagine most of the classical composers would have loved mode

The need for musicians in classical music was because they didn't have any other way to play it. I imagine most of the classical composers would have loved modern recording, and not bothered with composing for other musicians, if they could have avoided it. I think of Conlon Noncarrow, who composed mostly for player pianos. Human beings couldn't play his compositions. He was driven to the player piano by the limitations of human performers.