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.
Meaning of the quote
Music is like a secret language that some people find confusing, but for composer Felix Mendelssohn, it was the opposite. He felt that music could express things more clearly than words, not just in an entire speech, but even in single words. While many people think words are easier to understand, Mendelssohn believed music could convey ideas and feelings in a more direct and powerful way.
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