I came to think that every notation is already the transcription of an abstract invention. From the instant the pen takes hold of it, the idea loses its original feature. … The invention (Einfall) becomes a sonata, a concerto: it is already an arrangement of the original. From this first transcription to the second, the step is, by comparison, minimal and insignificant. In general, however, it is only to the second that great importance is attached. And we lose sight, after that, of the fact that a transcription does not destroy the original version, thus that there is no degradation. … For the musical work of art exists before having sounded and after it has resounded, it is there complete and intact. It is both in time and outside of time.
Busoni, “The Value of Arrangement”, cited in Peter Szendy (2008) Listen: A History of Our Ears, New York, Fordham University Press, p.66.
Busoni on invention
by
Tags:
Featured Content
Context and beauty
“When you’re young, you can be taken with the impulse of the moment and the beauty of a phrase, but the older you get, the more you see that the phrase is only beautiful because of the context within which it works. The melody is only the outward manifestation of something quite deep inside and […]
A musical use for trashFavio Chávez, a technician at a Paraguayan landfill site, formed the the Cateura Orchestra of Recycled Instruments: an orchestra comprising of the children of landfill works. The orchestra was designed to encourage musical education in an low socio-economic area. A violin would hold more value than a landfill worker’s house. However, by creating instruments out […]
The beginning and the end“Genius begins great works; labor alone finishes them.” – Joseph Joubert, French writer Joubert, J. (1983) The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert: A Selection. Translated by Paul Auster. San Francisco: North Point Press, p. 76.
Give Thanks to the Lord – Psalm 105 (106)Title: Give thanks to the Lord Text: Psalm 105 (106) Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano/organ Product medium: PDF score and parts SAMPLE:
The cleansing power of musicEach art endeavors to isolate itself, to remain independent of all others. But a play without music is like a feast without wine. Music cleanses the soul from the dust and dross of every day life and seems to say to every one: ‘You are no longer in your office, in the barracks, or in […]
Parry on choral musicHubert Parry, who taught Vaughan Williams composition, instructed the composer to “write choral music as befits and Englishman and a democrat.” Vaughan Williams recalled that “this attitude to art led to an almost moral hated of mere luscious sound…” Vaughan Williams, cited in Holmes, Paul (1997) Vaughan Williams. London: Omnibus Press, p.17.
Seeking challengesPianist Artur Schnabel was asked at a public forum why his repertoire was so restricted: My answer is that now I am attracted only to music which I consider to be better than it can be performed. Therefore I feel (rightly or wrongly) that unless a piece of music presents a problem to me, a […]
Abstraction ITitle: Abstraction Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Piano Product medium: PDF score Sample:
Debussy on Metronome markingsYou know what I think about metronome marks: they’re right for a single bar, like “roses, with a morning life”. Only there are “those” who don’t hear music and who take these marks as authority to hear it still less! But do what you please. — Debussy, Letter to Jacques Durand of 9 October 1915 […]
Wexford Carol (SATB and piano)Title: Wexford Carol Text: 12th century Irish Composer: 12th century Irish, arr. Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano Related products: – Wexford Carol – SATB and organ (PDF score) Product medium: PDF score and parts Sample: