'For me, the most important thing is the element of chance that is built into a live performance. The very great drawback of recorded sound is the fact that it is always the same. No matter how wonderful a recording is, I know that I couldn't live with it--even of my own music--with the same nuances forever.' Quoted in Classic Essays on Twentieth-Century Music, ISBN 0028645812
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Copland values the unpredictable element of live performance, noting recorded music lacks that ever‑changing nuance.
- In plain terms
- Live music is valuable for its chance‑driven uniqueness.
- What can you take from it?
- Appreciate the spontaneity of live performances.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does chance add to artistic expression?
- Can recordings capture any sense of spontaneity?
Another view
Not all music benefits equally from live variation.
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