--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is still true that it is easier to…" description: "\"It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in the form of a manual for adjusting a VCR than it is to write a piece using just tuning as a sym..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png" --- # It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in… ![“It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in the form of a manual for adjusting a VCR than it is to write a piece using just tuning as a symphony.” quote by Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png) > “It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in the form of a manual for adjusting a VCR than it is to write a piece using just tuning as a symphony.” [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) ## 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 contrasts the ease of writing a technical manual with the difficulty of creating a poem that uses pure tuning as its structure. **In simple terms:** Technical writing is easier than abstract musical poetry. Key Takeaway Embrace the challenge of innovative artistic forms. Themes art creativity music poetry complexity Mood reflective inquisitive inspired Type artistic musical When to use this quote - composing experimental music - teaching composition - writing abstract poetry - designing sound installations Key Concepts Experimental music structural composition artistic difficulty creative process Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to pursue unconventional artistic methods? - How can technical precision inform creative expression? A Different Perspective It may undervalue the skill required for technical writing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [Have it compose a poem -- a poem about a haircut! But lofty, noble, tragic, timeless, full of love, treachery, retribution, quiet heroism in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-lem/have-it-compose-a-poem-a-poem-about-a-haircut-but-lofty-noble-tragic/) [Stanislaw Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-lem/) > [“Have it compose a poem- a poem about a haircut! 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Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I think they’re having trouble adjusting to the emotions they have outside of their dreams. 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I'm 28; I'm not 19 anymore. You have to work harder now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-hernandez/every-year-you-have-to-keep-adjusting-i-m-28-i-m-not-19-anymore-you/) [Felix Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-hernandez/) > [Aerobic dancing is already adjusting to injury problems and will probably phase out to some extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-cooper/aerobic-dancing-is-already-adjusting-to-injury-problems-and-will/) [Kenneth H. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) ## More by Brian Ferneyhough > [In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic fluctuations are, I suppose, what my music is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/in-my-model-important-interference-phenomena-arise-when-individual/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Sometimes one can be so closely involved with things that the larger context is lost to view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/sometimes-one-can-be-so-closely-involved-with-things-that-the-larger/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Certainly being in California has encouraged a sustained commitment to rethinking the nature, purposes, and relevance of the contemporary arts, specifically music, for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/certainly-being-in-california-has-encouraged-a-sustained-commitment/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [There would seem to be a limit, even for an art preoccupied with boundaries and transgressions, beyond which a work reaches its breaking point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/there-would-seem-to-be-a-limit-even-for-an-art-preoccupied-with/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Composers dialogue - and obsessively, bitterly argue - with other composers, often over the span of several centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/composers-dialogue-and-obsessively-bitterly-argue-with-other/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [In my own recent String Trio I attempt to superimpose two quite different sets of formal strategies, both of which, ultimately, refer back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/in-my-own-recent-string-trio-i-attempt-to-superimpose-two-quite/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [I don't see 'lines of force' as being destructive, except to the extent that they are exclusively traceable through observance of the path of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/i-don-t-see-lines-of-force-as-being-destructive-except-to-the-extent/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Hence my obstinate emphasis on stylistic continuity from work to work rather than specific sibling relationships between the individual work and other members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/hence-my-obstinate-emphasis-on-stylistic-continuity-from-work-to-work/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [So: we're all tired. Now what? Manuscripts written in Club Med?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/so-we-re-all-tired-now-what-manuscripts-written-in-club-med/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [The past nine years in San Diego have represented such a period of questioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/the-past-nine-years-in-san-diego-have-represented-such-a-period-of/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [If nothing is at risk, nothing is established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/if-nothing-is-at-risk-nothing-is-established/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [I would not say that I was, these days, a 'student' of philosophy, although in my youth I was quite deeply involved with certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/i-would-not-say-that-i-was-these-days-a-student-of-philosophy/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [The Western musical canon came about not merely by accumulation, but by opposition and subversion, both to the ruling powers on whom composers depended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/the-western-musical-canon-came-about-not-merely-by-accumulation-but/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [By reason of weird translation, many such sets of instructions read like poems anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/by-reason-of-weird-translation-many-such-sets-of-instructions-read/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [If the work of art is to continue pursuing the vision of both being in and of the world but nevertheless in some fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/if-the-work-of-art-is-to-continue-pursuing-the-vision-of-both-being/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) [Explore all 36 Brian Ferneyhough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) ## More Adjusting quotes > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Aerobic dancing is already adjusting to injury problems and will probably phase out to some extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-cooper/aerobic-dancing-is-already-adjusting-to-injury-problems-and-will/) [Kenneth H. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [Every year, you have to keep adjusting. I'm 28; I'm not 19 anymore. You have to work harder now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-hernandez/every-year-you-have-to-keep-adjusting-i-m-28-i-m-not-19-anymore-you/) [Felix Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-hernandez/) > [The most successful businessmen were often uneducated when measured by the scholastic standards of the teaching profession. But they were equal to their social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-most-successful-businessmen-were-often-uneducated-when-measured/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair life, but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere, finding musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-was-physically-difficult-adjusting-to-wheelchair-life-but-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [At first I had no skills in writing comedy. I didn't know what a joke was, but, as someone once told me, your emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/at-first-i-had-no-skills-in-writing-comedy-i-didn-t-know-what-a-joke/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The challenge of co-operation in today's age of quarrel can be achieved by adjusting every situation according to the higher principle of loving God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/the-challenge-of-co-operation-in-today-s-age-of-quarrel-can-be/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“ Here's something life doesn't give you: a recipe.You have to make it up as you go along, adjusting accordingly. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-gold/here-s-something-life-doesn-t-give-you-a-recipe-you-have-to-make-it/) Jennifer Gold > [The first effect of adjusting to other people is that one becomes boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-first-effect-of-adjusting-to-other-people-is-that-one-becomes/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [I think they’re having trouble adjusting to the emotions they have outside of their dreams. At any rate, they keep acting like demented teenagers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-think-they-re-having-trouble-adjusting-to-the-emotions-they-have/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Wise and prudent men and intelligent conservatives have long known that in a changing world worthy institutions can be conserved only by adjusting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/wise-and-prudent-men-and-intelligent-conservatives-have-long-known/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [It’s really critical to have your dream life in your mind so that you’re constantly adjusting and designing your business in such a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-roney/it-s-really-critical-to-have-your-dream-life-in-your-mind-so-that-you/) [Blake Roney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-roney/) > [“There are four ways to adjust a recipe: adjusting the number of portions yielded, changing the size of the portions, yielding a specific number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-parker-puckett/there-are-four-ways-to-adjust-a-recipe-adjusting-the-number-of/) [Ruby Parker Puckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-parker-puckett/) > [Talent is important, and some background as well. This really is not beginner's school. I want to work with people that have achieved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlatko-stefanovski/talent-is-important-and-some-background-as-well-this-really-is-not/) Vlatko Stefanovski > [I don't mean to imply that we are in imminent danger of being wiped off the face of the earth - at least, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-claussen/i-don-t-mean-to-imply-that-we-are-in-imminent-danger-of-being-wiped/) [Eileen Claussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-claussen/) Browse all 170 Adjusting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in the form of a manual for adjusting a VCR than it is to write a piece using just tuning as a symphony.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Ferneyhough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-compose-a-poem-in-the-form-of-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adjusting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-compose-a-poem-in-the-form-of-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/brian-ferneyhough-17806_adjusting_it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-co_2607095.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is still true that it is easier to compose a poem in the form of a manual for adjusting a VCR than it is…” — Brian Ferneyhough", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brian Ferneyhough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is still true that it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-compose-a-poem-in-the-form-of-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/it-is-still-true-that-it-is-easier-to-compose-a-poem-in-the-form-of-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```