--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I belong to a tradition it is a…" description: "\"If I belong to a tradition it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what he should do and not the performer telling the piece wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/alfred-brendel-34013_composer_if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradi_1941628.jpg" --- # If I belong to a tradition it is a tradition that makes… ![“If I belong to a tradition it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what he should do and not the performer telling the piece what it should be like, or the composer what he ought to have composed.” quote by Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/alfred-brendel-34013_composer_if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradi_1941628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/alfred-brendel-34013_composer_if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradi_1941628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/alfred-brendel-34013_composer_if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradi_1941628.jpg) > “If I belong to a tradition it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what he should do and not the performer telling the piece what it should be like, or the composer what he ought to have composed.” [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that a tradition should guide the performer, not the performer redefining the work, emphasizing fidelity to artistic intent. **In simple terms:** Tradition should shape performance, not the reverse. Key Takeaway Respect the work’s original direction. Themes tradition artistic fidelity interpretation Mood analytical thoughtful Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - classical concerts - theatre rehearsals - film scoring - educational settings Key Concepts musicology performance practice Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition with personal expression? - When is reinterpretation appropriate? A Different Perspective Rigid adherence may stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [If I belong to a tradition, it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what to do, and not the performer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradition-that-makes-the/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [“So what does story telling give a piece? Ultimately this is their brand.  This is their story which makes them different from the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-merrett/so-what-does-story-telling-give-a-piece-ultimately-this-is-their/) [Julie Merrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-merrett/) > [It is a cultural tradition that makes New Orleans what it is. It also represents the roots of American music and an important part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-taylor/it-is-a-cultural-tradition-that-makes-new-orleans-what-it-is-it-also/) [Bill Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-taylor/) > [“Tradition makes people want to cling to their identity. Change is the enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/tradition-makes-people-want-to-cling-to-their-identity-change-is-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Human beings need to belong to a tradition and equally need to know about the world in which they find themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/human-beings-need-to-belong-to-a-tradition-and-equally-need-to-know/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [I belong to a tradition that believes that the death of a single child is a blemish on creation...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-belong-to-a-tradition-that-believes-that-the-death-of-a-single/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [It's time to realise that tradition is fantastic but if because of tradition and only tradition you lose everyone it's less fantastic so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/it-s-time-to-realise-that-tradition-is-fantastic-but-if-because-of/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [The trouble with a series as it gets older is it can feel like a tradition, and tradition is the enemy of suspense, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-trouble-with-a-series-as-it-gets-older-is-it-can-feel-like-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The emphasis on original, individual work in the past years has done a great deal to produce a crop of eccentric fakes and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-french-sloan/the-emphasis-on-original-individual-work-in-the-past-years-has-done-a/) [John French Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-french-sloan/) > [Tradition is no longer a continuity but a series of sharp breaks. 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A sense of order comes from chaos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/art-gives-a-sense-of-order-life-is-basically-chaotic-and-there-s-a/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [If I belong to a tradition, it is a tradition that makes the masterpiece tell the performer what to do, and not the performer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/if-i-belong-to-a-tradition-it-is-a-tradition-that-makes-the/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [I want to make music. 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