Song Quote by Christopher Small
““The corps of Great Composers who provided the works that are played here are all dead; living musicians may have their works played here from time to time, as a kind of courtesy, but it is the dead who command the loyalty of audiences, and it is their works that are played here over and over again with loving note-for-note accuracy.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Musicology, Christopher Small, 1993
The quote argues that audiences and institutions prioritize works of deceased composers, treating living creators as secondary, which reinforces a reverence for the past over contemporary innovation.
In simple terms: We honor dead composers more than living ones.
Key Takeaway
Support and promote living artists alongside classics.
Themes
tradition
legacy
artistic value
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
cultural
inspirational
When to use this quote
- concert programming
- educational curricula
- radio playlists
- museum exhibits
Key Concepts
cultural memory
canon formation
music history
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance reverence for classics with encouragement of new works?
- What responsibilities do audiences have to living artists?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on the past can stifle new creativity.
![“Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked [off the radio]. I don't mind it. I hate all these big, silly rock stars who moan. At least they're fuckin' downloading your music, you cunt, and paying attention, know what I mean? You should fuckin'…” quote by Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c7/liam-gallagher-12691_liam-gallagher_downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to_369.jpg)
