These seem to me so ambiguous, so vague, so easily misunderstood in comparison to genuine music, which fills the soul with a thousand things better than words.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that music is a powerful and meaningful form of expression that can convey emotions and ideas in a way that words cannot. According to Mendelssohn, music has the unique ability to touch our souls and inspire us in ways that spoken or written language cannot. He believes that genuine, heartfelt music is superior to ambiguous or unclear forms of communication because it can express a thousand different thoughts and feelings that words simply cannot capture.
About Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn was a renowned German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period. He composed a wide range of works, including symphonies, concertos, and the iconic ‘Wedding March’ from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Despite facing some opposition to his more conservative musical tastes, Mendelssohn’s creative genius has been re-evaluated, and he is now considered one of the most popular composers of the Romantic era.
More quotes from Felix Mendelssohn
The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety.
German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent
Ever since I began to compose, I have remained true to my starting principle: not to write a page because no matter what public, or what pretty girl wanted it to be thus or thus; but to write solely as I myself thought best, and as it gave me pleasure.
German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent
These seem to me so ambiguous, so vague, so easily misunderstood in comparison to genuine music, which fills the soul with a thousand things better than words.
German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent
Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God.
German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent
People often complain that music is too ambiguous, that what they should think when they hear it is so unclear, whereas everyone understands words. With me, it is exactly the opposite, and not only with regard to an entire speech but also with individual words.
German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent