--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Composing is like driving down a foggy…" description: "\"Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b4/benjamin-britten-37919_bricks_composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-r_2321385.jpg" --- # Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a… ![“Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.” quote by Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b4/benjamin-britten-37919_bricks_composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-r_2321385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b4/benjamin-britten-37919_bricks_composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-r_2321385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b4/benjamin-britten-37919_bricks_composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-r_2321385.jpg) > “Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.” [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating music is likened to building a house, where each note contributes to the overall structure and detail. **In simple terms:** Composition is building a detailed structure with notes. Key Takeaway Treat each musical element as a building block. Themes creativity process craftsmanship Mood analytical instructive Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - orchestration - educational workshops Key Concepts musical architecture analogy Questions to Reflect On - How does this analogy help you structure a piece? - What are the “walls” in your music? A Different Perspective Complex ideas may be oversimplified by the house metaphor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) ## Related quotes > [I am composing like a god, as if it simply had to be done as it has been done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-schubert/i-am-composing-like-a-god-as-if-it-simply-had-to-be-done-as-it-has/) [Franz Schubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-schubert/) > [My kind of composing is more like the work of a gardener. The gardener takes his seeds and scatters them, knowing what he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/my-kind-of-composing-is-more-like-the-work-of-a-gardener-the-gardener/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Composing is like making love to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/composing-is-like-making-love-to-the-future/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [Composing is like driving down a foggy road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-road/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/it-is-cruel-you-know-that-music-should-be-so-beautiful/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [It is hard work composing a song for a film and showing it to makers: 50% of the tune remains the same, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/it-is-hard-work-composing-a-song-for-a-film-and-showing-it-to-makers/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'd always loved poetry and I'd always loved writing music and composing music, but I hadn't thought of putting the two together until around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/i-d-always-loved-poetry-and-i-d-always-loved-writing-music-and/) [Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/) > [Every day I lugged my backpack through the halls, waiting for the final bell. Then I'd race home and hole up in my room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/every-day-i-lugged-my-backpack-through-the-halls-waiting-for-the/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/) Steve Swallow > [I was really into the music of Cream after I finished composing the music for 'BTTB.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-was-really-into-the-music-of-cream-after-i-finished-composing-the/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Even though, theoretically, being a composer and being a songwriter are the same thing, in my brain, they are completely different. When I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bacon/even-though-theoretically-being-a-composer-and-being-a-songwriter-are/) [Michael Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bacon/) > [I'm the only actor who has done everything, right from anchoring shows to composing and singing songs to theatre to movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/i-m-the-only-actor-who-has-done-everything-right-from-anchoring-shows/) [Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/) > [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/) Barbara Kolb > [As human beings, we are the only organisms that create for the sheer stupid pleasure of doing so. Whether it's laying out a garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/as-human-beings-we-are-the-only-organisms-that-create-for-the-sheer/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. If you want to be a player for all your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/playing-is-much-much-harder-than-composing-in-my-opinion-becoming-a/) [John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/) ## More by Benjamin Britten > [The old idea of a composer suddenly having a terrific idea and sitting up all night to write it is nonsense. Nighttime is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/the-old-idea-of-a-composer-suddenly-having-a-terrific-idea-and/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/it-is-cruel-you-know-that-music-should-be-so-beautiful/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [Composing is like driving down a foggy road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/composing-is-like-driving-down-a-foggy-road/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [Music does not excite until it is performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/music-does-not-excite-until-it-is-performed/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [“It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness & of pain: of strength & freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/it-is-cruel-you-know-that-music-should-be-so-beautiful-it-has-the/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [I liked the opera very much. Everything but the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/i-liked-the-opera-very-much-everything-but-the-music/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [The model of a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/the-model-of-a-composer/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [One day I'll be able to relax a bit, and try and become a good composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/one-day-i-ll-be-able-to-relax-a-bit-and-try-and-become-a-good-composer/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness of pain: of strength and freedom. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/it-is-cruel-you-know-that-music-should-be-so-beautiful-it-has-the-2/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [These two are not two, love has made them one. Amo Ergo Sum! And by its mystery each is no less but more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/these-two-are-not-two-love-has-made-them-one-amo-ergo-sum-and-by-its/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) > [I am an arrogant and impatient listener, but in the case of a few composers, a very few, when I hear a work I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-britten/i-am-an-arrogant-and-impatient-listener-but-in-the-case-of-a-few/) [Benjamin Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) [Explore all 12 Benjamin Britten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-britten/) ## More Bricks quotes > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [That city is well fortified which has a wall of men instead of brick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-city-is-well-fortified-which-has-a-wall-of-men-instead-of-brick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [LEGO is universal. So many people enjoy it, from all different walks of life, all different ages, all different cultures. When I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-sawaya/lego-is-universal-so-many-people-enjoy-it-from-all-different-walks-of/) [Nathan Sawaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-sawaya/) > [Even if you tried to extinguish your personality, what is left in the story will reflect it, perhaps by its negation. Our lives provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/even-if-you-tried-to-extinguish-your-personality-what-is-left-in-the/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I am always really buzzed after each performance, and at around one in the morning, Ill hit a brick wall and need to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/i-am-always-really-buzzed-after-each-performance-and-at-around-one-in/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) > [“Savannah gray bricks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/savannah-gray-bricks/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [I still have the desire to do the job of acting. It's just a matter of whether I'll be allowed to do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-still-have-the-desire-to-do-the-job-of-acting-it-s-just-a-matter-of/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) > [Rebuilding a network is a slow, brick-by-brick process. It's not just creating a hit show - it's building shows to back up that hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-moonves/rebuilding-a-network-is-a-slow-brick-by-brick-process-it-s-not-just/) [Leslie Moonves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-moonves/) > [Build your life brick upon brick, Live a life of truth, And you will look back on a life of truth. Live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ming-dao-deng/build-your-life-brick-upon-brick-live-a-life-of-truth-and-you-will/) [Ming-Dao Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ming-dao-deng/) > [You have those walls up all around you...Come a day you gonna want to tear them down brick by brick and gonna find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/you-have-those-walls-up-all-around-you-come-a-day-you-gonna-want-to/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“As an employee, you’re not supposed to say the bricks come from modern day Iran or modern day Turkey. No, they come from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-hill-jr/as-an-employee-you-re-not-supposed-to-say-the-bricks-come-from-modern/) David A. Hill Jr > [“Two bricks, parallel and horizontal, equals an equal sign. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-bricks-parallel-and-horizontal-equals-an-equal-sign/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Didn’t every new thing you did become a part of you, one of your bricks?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/didn-t-every-new-thing-you-did-become-a-part-of-you-one-of-your-bricks/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) Browse all 587 Bricks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. 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