--- title: "4 Composer Quotes By Ornette Coleman" description: "4 Composer quotes by Ornette Coleman. Plus more from Ornette Coleman and more Composer sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/ornette-coleman-12578_composer_originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-a_2212582.jpg" --- > [Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I always tell people, 'I think of myself as a composer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-always-tell-people-i-think-of/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/ornette-coleman-12578_composer_originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-a_2212582.jpg) > [I've had those people very interested in my writing. Since I think of myself as a composer, I feel really good. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-had-those-people-very-interested-in-my-writing-since-i-think-of/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ornette-coleman-12578_call_i-ve-had-those-people-very-interested-in_2241028.jpg) > [I have often read critical pieces where the critic said that what the composer was trying to do didn't come off. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-have-often-read-critical-pieces-where-the-critic-said-that-what-the/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/ornette-coleman-12578_composer_i-have-often-read-critical-pieces-where_2674059.jpg) > [After I found out that I was playing music and that I'd have to learn how to read and write music, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-found-out-that-i-was-playing-music-and-that-i-d-have-to-learn/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/ornette-coleman-12578_composer_after-i-found-out-that-i-was-playing-mus_2852573.jpg) ## Other authors on Composer - [Barbara Harbach 11 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/barbara-harbach/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b015/author-leonard-bernstein-59681.jpg) Leonard Bernstein 9 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/leonard-bernstein/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-howard-shore-42458.jpg) Howard Shore 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/howard-shore/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-igor-stravinsky-43154.jpg) Igor Stravinsky 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/igor-stravinsky/) - [Michael Hersch 6 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/michael-hersch/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b016/author-ludwig-van-beethoven-61870.jpg) Ludwig van Beethoven 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/ludwig-van-beethoven/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-jon-gordon-52735.jpg) Jon Gordon 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/jon-gordon/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-john-philip-sousa-52096.jpg) John Philip Sousa 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/john-philip-sousa/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-henry-mancini-41616.jpg) Henry Mancini 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/henry-mancini/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-esapekka-salonen-33952.jpg) Esa-Pekka Salonen 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/esa-pekka-salonen/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-brian-eno-19492.jpg) Brian Eno 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/brian-eno/) - [Benjamin Britten 5 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/benjamin-britten/) ## More by Ornette Coleman > [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [That's why I haven't been so anxious. But now, lots of people write and say, 'I want to find out what you're doing.' So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/that-s-why-i-haven-t-been-so-anxious-but-now-lots-of-people-write-and/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/no-one-has-to-learn-to-spell-to-talk-right-you-see-a-little-kid/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-record-executive-i-always-went/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/music-has-many-uses-and-i-think-the-most-perfected-use-that-music-has/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Musicians tell me, if what I'm doing is right, they should never have gone to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/musicians-tell-me-if-what-i-m-doing-is-right-they-should-never-have/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I'm interested in music, not in my image. If someone plays something fantastic, that I could never have thought of, it makes me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-m-interested-in-music-not-in-my-image-if-someone-plays-something/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/when-i-have-them-working-together-it-s-like-a-beautiful-kaleidoscope/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-was-when-i-found-out-i-could-make-mistakes-that-i-knew-i-was-on-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-left-texas-and-went-to-california-i-had-a-hard-time-getting/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-don-t-really-live-like-a-musician-myself-i-think-music-is-just/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-remember-once-i-read-a-book-on-mental-illness-and-there-was-a-nurse/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/most-of-my-relationships-have-been-like-that-with-record-companies-i/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/ornette-coleman/#itemlist", "name": "4 Composer Quotes By Ornette Coleman", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Originally, I wanted to be a composer. 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