--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical." description: "\"Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.\" — Edgard Varese" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png" --- # Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical. ![“Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.” quote by Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png) > “Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.” [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The musical alphabet is limited and illogical, implying constraints in musical notation. **In simple terms:** Music notation is limited and illogical. Key Takeaway Explore alternative musical expression beyond traditional notation. Themes music notation creativity limitations theory Mood innovative critical artistic Type musical theory When to use this quote - composition - education - performance - instrument design Key Concepts avant‑garde experimental music semiotics Questions to Reflect On - How can musicians work within or beyond these limits? - What new systems could replace traditional notation? A Different Perspective May be too abstract for practical use. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alphabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabet/) [Alphabet Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabet-poor-2153387/) [Illogical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illogical/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical Alphabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-alphabet-1306879/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Illogical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-illogical-2153388/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical. 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Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Edgard Varese > [An artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/an-artist-is-never-ahead-of-his-time-but-most-people-are-far-behind/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [No matter how consummate a work of art may seem, it is only an approximation of the original conception. It is the artist's consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/no-matter-how-consummate-a-work-of-art-may-seem-it-is-only-an/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [There are two infinities: God and stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/there-are-two-infinities-god-and-stupidity/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [I rather like a certain clumsiness in a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/i-rather-like-a-certain-clumsiness-in-a-work-of-art/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [Music is organized sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/music-is-organized-sound/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [Men set themselves a goal, and having attained it, are satisfied and grow paunches. 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My experimenting is done before I make the music. Afterwards it is the listener who must experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/i-do-not-write-experimental-music-my-experimenting-is-done-before-i/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [I was not influenced by composers as much as by natural objects and physical phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/i-was-not-influenced-by-composers-as-much-as-by-natural-objects-and/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [The present day composer refuses to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/the-present-day-composer-refuses-to-die/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) [Explore all 23 Edgard Varese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) ## More Alphabet quotes > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It s the letter I use to spell yuzz a ma tuzz. You ll be sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/my-alphabet-starts-with-this-letter-called-yuzz-it-s-the-letter-i-use/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [I cannot find it in me to fear a man who took ten years a learning of his alphabet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-cannot-find-it-in-me-to-fear-a-man-who-took-ten-years-a-learning-of/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Why' is the only question that bothers people enough to have an entire letter of the alphabet named after it. The alphabet does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/why-is-the-only-question-that-bothers-people-enough-to-have-an-entire/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The visual power of the phonetic alphabet is the translate other languages into itself is part of its power to invade right hemisphere (oral)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-visual-power-of-the-phonetic-alphabet-is-the-translate-other/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Architecture is the alphabet of giants; it is the largest set of symbols ever made to meet the eyes of men. A tower stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/architecture-is-the-alphabet-of-giants-it-is-the-largest-set-of/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet, ... The White T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-t-shirt-as-the-alpha-and-omega-of-the/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Alphabetical order had to be invented to help people organize the first dictionaries. 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Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) [Browse all 336 Alphabet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edgard Varese" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alphabet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/edgard-varese-25494_alphabet_our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogic_2626338.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.” — Edgard Varese", "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": "Edgard Varese", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our musical alphabet is poor and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/our-musical-alphabet-is-poor-and-illogical/#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 } } ] } ```