Improvising is writing, too - there was no music and now…
“Improvising is writing, too - there was no music and now there's music. So that's composition. And any time you take any sort of a performance liberty, you're making a compositional choice. I don't know a serious performer who hasn't made compositional decisions, who hasn't engaged in the art of composition.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Improvisation is a form of composition; each performance decision shapes the music like writing does.
In simple terms: Improvising equals composing.
Key Takeaway
Treat spontaneous choices as compositional acts.
Themes
creativity
music
improvisation
Mood
excited
reflective
Type
musical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- live jazz sessions
- solo performances
- rehearsal experiments
- studio recordings
Key Concepts
artistic agency
musical structure
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How does spontaneity affect musical coherence?
- When should a performer plan versus improvise?
A Different Perspective
Improvisation may lack the intentional planning of written composition, leading to inconsistency.