If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.
Gustav Mahler in Letter to Max Marschalk (1896)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Related quotes
It's hard to decide how to match words to music. It's not like it's twice the work. It's always difficult for me to explain to the composer what I'm looking for. I'm not a professional; I lack even basic knowledge about writing music.
quote by Ayumi Hamasaki
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Aaron Copland was a man that had a very specific point of view about what music should be which was that, he felt that new music should have the composer should show a personality in his music.
quote by Elliott Carter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To me, all writing is like music. And especially dialogue. I studied music in college; that is what I wanted to be, a composer. Acting got me sidetracked.
quote by Dirk Benedict
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Any composer who is gloriously conscious that he is a composer must believe that he receives his inspiration from a source higher than himself.
quote by John Philip Sousa
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I always tell people, 'I think of myself as a composer.'
quote by Ornette Coleman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
quote by Anthony de Mello
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Did It Rain Heavily Last Night?
i fell asleep
deep and
sound like
you i felt
i was dead
did it really rain
heavily last night?
the road is muddy
and i cannot take
a walk this morning
don't bother
i can go barefoot
don't bother
i like the mud
don't bother
i like being dirty
don't bother
the sun dries them all
and the water
at the pump
shall clean them all
don't bother
i am still alive.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I find respect for a mediocre British composer, as opposed to a really good American, ridiculous because they automatically respect a composer if he's from England.
quote by John Corigliano
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A nation creates music - the composer only arranges it.
quote by Mikhail Glinka
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I dream of a collaboration that would finally be total, in which the librettist would often think as a composer and the composer as a librettist.
quote by Jacques Ibert
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Unfinished Symphony for M lady Tara
The ultimate pastoral symphony,
beyond the skill of man to reproduce.
Of all the music I have heard I choose
the complex interweaving melody.
Of flowing brooks and the wind in the trees
all natural sounds are put to use.
No sound the great composer will refuse
to use for his exquisite harmonies.
The wind the waters and the tree s combine.
Supported by the voices of a host
of living things who add their voices to
form part of a symphony divine.
The great composer has no need to boast
about his compositions ever new.
12-Dec-08
http: // blog.myspace.com.poeticpiers.
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The further the music develops, the more complex the apparatus used by the composer to express his thoughts becomes.
quote by Gustav Mahler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In any case, Ives encouraged me to go into music even though he himself had such a hard time being a composer.
quote by Elliott Carter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Hand Begins To Talk
A hand begins to talk
a composer's hand
searching for the tit
up a narrow staircase of music full of go
*
This soft piece of a wet-nurse
hangs heavily nutritious down in the morning darkness
all faithful fans drawn towards it with force
this yellow sorcery milk of music
*
Blow horn long morning
a long horn's morning wind
easy tones of air for wings to beat
*
I put on my own music / I dress well in music of mine
my brow is a warming loudspeaker for the music to well out of
a freindly touching bass
poem by Mikael Ejdemyr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated from it.
quote by Hanns Eisler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Music Of O Carolan
The music of O Carolan I have loved for many years
So sad and yet so beautiful it reduces one to tears
The poor blind harper of the County Meath is one many tend to under-rate
As a composer of beautiful music he is one we ought to celebrate
Carolan's Concerto and A Farewell To Music pieces of enduring fame
Just two that will live forever in Turlough O Carolan's name
Music composed by O Carolan easy to recognize
That he is not more famous is a bit of a surprise
The facts are true greatness is born of longevity and facts do never lie
And the music of O Carolan is not destined to die
For as long as people enjoy music his compositions will live on
Though physically he himself as a mortal to the ways of time have gone
The music of O Carolan I loved it as a boy
And in my early sixties it I do still enjoy.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Daybreak in Alabama
When I get to be a composer
I'm gonna write me some music about
Daybreak in Alabama
And I'm gonna put the purtiest songs in it
Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist
And falling out of heaven like soft dew.
I'm gonna put some tall tall trees in it
And the scent of pine needles
And the smell of red clay after rain
And long red necks
And poppy colored faces
And big brown arms
And the field daisy eyes
Of black and white black white black people
And I'm gonna put white hands
And black hands and brown and yellow hands
And red clay earth hands in it
Touching everybody with kind fingers
And touching each other natural as dew
In that dawn of music when I
Get to be a composer
And write about daybreak
In Alabama.
poem by Langston Hughes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I really liked doing a number of the projects and directors, and etc., etc., I knew about half-way through that I would never be doing that again. It's just not me. I really am happy as a part-time film composer, not a full-time film composer.
quote by Danny Elfman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Its Too Hot For Words
Its too hot for words
Why bother with conversation
Dont lets talk or even walk
If you want to make love, okay
Its too hot for words
Theres nothing like relaxation
Cant ignore this temperature
But if you want to make love, okay
Lets find a cozy nook
Beside a babbling brook
Lets find a shady tree
Let the love birds talk for you and me
Cause its much too hot for words
Why bother with conversation
Goodness knows my heart disclose
All it dares to say
All it cares to say
Its too hot for words
song performed by by Billie Holiday
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer.
quote by Richard Strauss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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