In some century to come, when the school children will…
“In some century to come, when the school children will whistle popular tunes in quarter-tones--when the diatonic scale will be as obsolete as the pentatonic is now--perhaps then these borderland experiences may be both easily expressed and readily recognized. But maybe music was not intended to satisfy the curious definiteness of man. Maybe it is better to hope that music may always be transcendental language in the most extravagant sense”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Music will evolve beyond conventional scales, becoming a universal, transcendent language beyond precise definition.
In simple terms: Music will become a universal language beyond fixed scales.
Key Takeaway
Embrace music’s boundless expressive potential.
Themes
creativity
transcendence
artistic evolution
communication
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
artistic
When to use this quote
- educational reform
- experimental composition
- cross‑cultural collaboration
- listening practice
Key Concepts
Aesthetics
cultural theory
phonetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach music that transcends fixed scales?
- What does “transcendental language” mean in everyday listening?
A Different Perspective
Traditional theory may limit appreciation of new tonalities.