“On the one hand it is said that the aim and object of music is to excite emotions, i.e., pleasurable emotions; on the other hand, the emotions are said to be the subject matter which musical works are intended to illustrate. Both propositions are alike in this, that one is as false as the other.” SaidMatterHandsEmotionSubjectsObjectsMusic IsAimMusicalPropositionsSubject Matter Author:Eduard Hanslick
“How can one express the indefinable sensations that one experiences while writing an instrumental composition that has no definite subject? It is a purely lyrical process. It is a musical confession of the soul, which unburdens itself through sounds just as a lyric poet expresses himself through poetry...As the poet Heine said, 'Where words leave off, music begins.'” WritingSaidSoulProcessSoundMusicSubjectsPoetMusic IsMusicalSensationsConfessionCompositionDefiniteLyricalIndefinable Author:Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
“Everybody enjoys arguing about the current state of music because it feels as if you are talking about something incredibly important, yet it requires little understanding of the subject matter at hand. It's like world politics meets the pink questions in Trivial Pursuit. Points are made but nothing gets accomplished.” IfsWorldFeelsLittlesMadeImportantMatterStatesHandsEnjoyUnderstandingTalkingSubjectsMusic IsCurrentsArguingPursuitAccomplishedSubject MatterWorld Politics Author:John Mayer