  The Maxwell equations for the spherical components of the electromagnetic
fields outside sources do not separate into equations for each component alone.
We show, however, that general solutions can be obtained by separation of
variables in the case of azimuthal symmetry. Boundary conditions are easier to
apply to these solutions, and their forms highlight the similarities and
differences between the electric and magnetic cases in both time-independent
and time-dependent situations. Instructive examples of direct calculation of
electric and magnetic fields from localized charge and current distributions
are presented.
