In writing, habit seems to be a stronger force than either willpower or inspiration. Consequently there must be some little quality of fierceness until the habit pattern of a certain number of words is established. There is no possibility, in me at least, of saying, “I’ll do it if I feel like it.” One never feels like awaking day after day. In fact, given the smallest excuse, one will not work at all. The rest is nonsense. Perhaps there are people who can work that way, but I cannot. I must get my words down every day whether they are any good or not.
M. Popova, “How Steinbeck Used the Diary as a Tool of Discipline, a Hedge Aginst Self-Doubt, and a Pacemaker for the Heartbeat of Creative Work,” The Marginalian, https://www.themarginalian.org/2015/03/02/john-steinbeck-working-days/, (accessed 9 February 2024).
— John Steinbeck, American writer
Habit is stronger than willpower or inspiration
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Schumann chasing a girl
Schumann once attended a masquerade during the carnival of 1830, in company with his friend Rosen, for the purpose of paying some attention to a pretty but otherwise insignificant girl.He knew that she would be present at the ball, and, as a pretext for approaching her, put a poem in his pocket.Fortune favored him: he […]
Schiff on Schumann"I know of no work by Schumann that is not wonderful and inspiring. One must leave every note just as he wrote it and experiment in order to find the correct balance and equilibrium. With Schumann there is always this burning inventiveness, this unbelievable inspiration." – András Schiff. Cited in Julian Haylock ""The Music of […]
The Fox (New Year’s Day)Composer: Greg SmithTitle: “The Fox (New Year’s Day)” from Tableaux Performer: Greg Smith (January 2025)Instrumentation: Piano
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Music with no boundariesMusic can imply the infinite if enough things depart from the norm far enough. Strange “abnormal” events can lead to the feeling that anything can happen, and you have a music with no boundaries. – Morton Feldman, American composer Cited in Tom Johnson, Remembrance, September 1987. Accessed 13 May 2013.
Following the crowd“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.” Alan Ashley-Pitt (Francis Phillip Wernig) Cited in: Eda LeShan (1973) The Wonderfujl Crisis of Middle Age. New York: Warner Books, p. 304.
Pieces to belong to performers“That’s what I find wonderful about music: there is always a secret left, pieces don’t belong to performers, you rent them!” – Joseph Moog, Pianist W. Boon, “Joseph Moog”, Pianistique, 5 November 2016, https://www.pianistique.com/home/english-interviews/15-interviews/75-joseph-moog, accessed 17 January 2022.
From the heart“What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.” — Samuel Coleridge Taylor, English poet, critic and philosopher. Coleridge, Samuel (1856) Seven Lectures on Shakespeare and Milton. London: Chapman and Hall, page xlv
I dream …“I dream, therefore I exist.” —August Stringberg, A Madman’s Defence (Le plaidoyer d’un fou)
Mass of SolidarityTitle: Mass of Solidarity Text: Roman Catholic Mass Composer: Greg Smith Sections: – Penitential rite – Gloria – Gospel acclamation – Creed – Holy – Eucharistic acclamations – Amen – Lamb of God Additional: – Gospel acclamations for Lent (Glory and Praise to You) – Gospel acclamations for specific Sundays or Feasts available on request. Instrumentation: – SATB […]