I think the origin of all this clamour for tonality is not…
“I think the origin of all this clamour for tonality is not so much the need to sense a relationship to the tonic, as a need for familiar chords: let us be frank and say "for the triad"; and I believe I have good reason to say that just so long as a certain kind of music contains enough such triads, it causes no offence, even if in other ways it most violently clashes with the sacred laws of tonality.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Familiar chord progressions provide comfort; they can be acceptable even if other musical rules are broken.
In simple terms: Familiar chords comfort listeners despite other rule violations.
Key Takeaway
Use familiar structures to engage audiences.
Themes
music
tonality
familiarity
Mood
thoughtful
creative
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- film scoring
- improvisation
- music education
Key Concepts
harmonic expectation
aesthetic tolerance
creative rule‑breaking
Questions to Reflect On
- When does familiarity become monotony?
- How can you balance novelty with listener comfort?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on familiar chords may limit innovation.