One day I said to myself that it would be better to get rid of all that--melody, rhythm, harmony, etc. This was not a negative thought and did not mean that it was necessary to avoid them, but rather that, while doing something else, they would appear spontaneously. We had to liberate ourselves from the direct and peremptory consequence of intention and effect, because the intention would always be our own and would be circumscribed, when so many other forces are evidently in action in the final effect.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wolff suggests letting artistic elements arise naturally instead of forcing them through direct intention.
- In plain terms
- Let music appear on its own without planning it.
- What can you take from it?
- Spontaneity often creates better art than rigid planning.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much planning do you need?
- What happens when you let go?
Another view
Some structure is necessary to communicate effectively.
More from Christian Wolff
Form is a theatrical event of a certain length, and the length itself may be unpredictable.
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