I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that German composer Johannes Brahms believed variation in music should be more controlled and simple. He felt the music should not have too many different elements, but instead be more pure and refined.
More quotes from Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.
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Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.
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Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind’s eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.
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A symphony is no joke.
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If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.
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Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.
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Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.
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I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.
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We cling nervously to the melody, but we don’t handle it freely, we don’t really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.
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