When I hear what we call ‘music,’ it seems to me that…
“When I hear what we call ‘music,’ it seems to me that someone is talking. And talking about his feelings, or about his ideas of relationships. But when I hear traffic, the sound of traffic — here on Sixth Avenue, for instance — I don’t have the feeling that anyone is talking. I have the feeling that sound is acting. And I love the activity of sound I don’t need sound to talk to me.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Sound can be an active force rather than a vehicle for speech, offering its own intrinsic value.
In simple terms: Sound acts on its own.
Key Takeaway
Listen to sound as activity.
Themes
music
sound
perception
Mood
contemplative
experimental
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban soundscape
- contemporary composition
- mindful listening
Key Concepts
acoustic phenomenology
non‑representational art
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sound influence mood without words?
- What does “sound acting” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Treating sound as speech may miss its abstract qualities.