I would not want you to suppose that my rejection of Allen…
“I would not want you to suppose that my rejection of Allen Forte's theory of pitch-class sets implies a rejection of the notion that there can be such a thing as a pitch-class set. It is only when one defines everything in terms of pitch-class sets that the concept becomes meaningless.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Rejecting a strict theory does not mean rejecting the underlying concept; over‑definition can render ideas meaningless.
In simple terms: Rejecting a theory isn’t rejecting the idea itself.
Key Takeaway
Question definitions, not concepts.
Themes
theory
definition
music analysis
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
scholarly
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- teaching music theory
- writing scholarly articles
Key Concepts
set theory
philosophy of language
Questions to Reflect On
- When does a definition become too restrictive?
- Can concepts survive without strict definitions?
A Different Perspective
Over‑definition can obscure meaning.