--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The emphasis in each piece is on building…" description: "\"The emphasis in each piece is on building a whole, totally integrated structure. In doing this, we try to carry on - in ensemble as well as solo sectio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/cecil-taylor-20434_building_the-emphasis-in-each-piece-is-on-buildin_3232648.jpg" --- # The emphasis in each piece is on building a whole, totally… ![“The emphasis in each piece is on building a whole, totally integrated structure. In doing this, we try to carry on - in ensemble as well as solo sections - the mood of a jazz soloist. I mean that principle of kinetic improvisation that keeps a jazz solo building.” quote by Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/cecil-taylor-20434_building_the-emphasis-in-each-piece-is-on-buildin_3232648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/cecil-taylor-20434_building_the-emphasis-in-each-piece-is-on-buildin_3232648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/cecil-taylor-20434_building_the-emphasis-in-each-piece-is-on-buildin_3232648.jpg) > “The emphasis in each piece is on building a whole, totally integrated structure. In doing this, we try to carry on - in ensemble as well as solo sections - the mood of a jazz soloist. I mean that principle of kinetic improvisation that keeps a jazz solo building.” [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) ## 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 describes creating music as a unified, integrated whole while preserving the spontaneous, kinetic energy of jazz improvisation, both in ensemble and solo contexts. **In simple terms:** Music should be cohesive yet retain improvisational freedom. Key Takeaway Blend structure with improvisation. Themes music composition improvisation integration jazz creativity Mood inspired reflective creative Type artistic musical philosophical When to use this quote - composing a symphony - arranging a band - live performance - studio recording Key Concepts Kinetic improvisation ensemble dynamics solo expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain cohesion while allowing spontaneous creativity? - What techniques help translate solo improvisation energy to an ensemble? A Different Perspective Balancing tight structure with free improvisation can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Ensemble Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ensemble-solo-5103476/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-solo-1683580/) [Kinetic Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinetic-improvisation-6121278/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Solo Sections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solo-sections-6121279/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [Louis Armstrong is the master of the jazz solo. He became the beacon, the light in the tower, that helped the rest of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-marsalis-jr/louis-armstrong-is-the-master-of-the-jazz-solo-he-became-the-beacon/) [Ellis Marsalis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-marsalis-jr/) > [It's never so that a film is an ensemble or solo. You do it if you like it and if you don't like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulkit-samrat/it-s-never-so-that-a-film-is-an-ensemble-or-solo-you-do-it-if-you/) [Pulkit Samrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pulkit-samrat/) > [I feel like the songs that I write are best when they are performed by an ensemble, rather than by one solo instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-zedek/i-feel-like-the-songs-that-i-write-are-best-when-they-are-performed/) [Thalia Zedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-zedek/) > [When we listen to improvisational jazz, or solo classical violinists, the way they phrase and inflect melodies feels vocal, like they’re talking to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/when-we-listen-to-improvisational-jazz-or-solo-classical-violinists/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [It ain't about if he knocks a guy out. It's about how he knocks a guy out. It's the style, the improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/it-ain-t-about-if-he-knocks-a-guy-out-it-s-about-how-he-knocks-a-guy/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [When you're at a concert and you hear someone improvise well, that's special; it puts you in the moment and takes you someplace. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/when-you-re-at-a-concert-and-you-hear-someone-improvise-well-that-s/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Improvisation is intuition in action, a way to discover the muse and learn to respond to her call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/improvisation-is-intuition-in-action-a-way-to-discover-the-muse-and/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Volleyball is one of the most interactive games going. It is a game of intuition, imagination, improvisation - but most of all, of reciprocity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-dunphy/volleyball-is-one-of-the-most-interactive-games-going-it-is-a-game-of/) [Marv Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-dunphy/) > [Maybe it's just my improv and sketch background, but I'm a lot more comfortable in a group. I like sharing focus and populating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mantzoukas/maybe-it-s-just-my-improv-and-sketch-background-but-i-m-a-lot-more/) [Jason Mantzoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mantzoukas/) > [When you do improv, you're everything. You're a performer, writer, and director, because you're moving the scene in the direction you want it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/when-you-do-improv-you-re-everything-you-re-a-performer-writer-and/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [With improvisation, I just do it. It might be a total failure but then you just throw the dice again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-marclay/with-improvisation-i-just-do-it-it-might-be-a-total-failure-but-then/) [Christian Marclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-marclay/) > [The biggest thing that comes out of improv that gets built on is just character traits. You know, for me the singing was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/the-biggest-thing-that-comes-out-of-improv-that-gets-built-on-is-just/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > ['Sicario' was a lot of improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/sicario-was-a-lot-of-improvisation/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) ## More by Cecil Taylor > [The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-listen-to-it-i-understand-i-understand/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [Mother, being a pianist, told me how to play with my fingers on the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/mother-being-a-pianist-told-me-how-to-play-with-my-fingers-on-the/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [To feel is perhaps the most terrifying thing in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/to-feel-is-perhaps-the-most-terrifying-thing-in-this-society/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [When I came out of the conservatory, the first thing I did was to go see Thelonious Monk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/when-i-came-out-of-the-conservatory-the-first-thing-i-did-was-to-go/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/to-me-the-piano-in-itself-is-an-orchestra/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [ In short, \[Coltrane's\] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/in-short-coltrane-s-tone-is-beautiful-because-it-is-functional-in/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [One of the things Mother said to me, 'You want this, you're going to practice.' And I know how to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/one-of-the-things-mother-said-to-me-you-want-this-you-re-going-to/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [They say, 'We will give you money, but we want you to play this or that.' And I always thought, 'If I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/they-say-we-will-give-you-money-but-we-want-you-to-play-this-or-that/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [You know what the material is so that you never play it the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/you-know-what-the-material-is-so-that-you-never-play-it-the-same-way/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [Doesn't that fool know I recorded that song because I like it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/doesn-t-that-fool-know-i-recorded-that-song-because-i-like-it/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/you-must-surrender-whatever-preconceptions-you-have-about-music-if/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [I'm saying that people who are enmeshed in situations of subjugation and have to live, have to find ways to project their dignity as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/i-m-saying-that-people-who-are-enmeshed-in-situations-of-subjugation/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [Before he fought Billy Conn, Joe Louis said, 'He can run, but he can't hide.' That's how I feel about New York: You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/before-he-fought-billy-conn-joe-louis-said-he-can-run-but-he-can-t/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [What I am doing is creating a language. A different American language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/what-i-am-doing-is-creating-a-language-a-different-american-language/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [Sometimes when it goes really well, you wonder, who's that at the piano?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/sometimes-when-it-goes-really-well-you-wonder-who-s-that-at-the-piano/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) [Explore all 31 Cecil Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) [Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The emphasis in each piece is on building a whole, totally integrated structure. 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