--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was one of the big problems when I…" description: "\"That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. We had to write choral pieces in the style of Brahms or Mendelssohn, which was d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/elliott-carter-23733_big-problem_that-was-one-of-the-big-problems-when-i_899775.png" --- # That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard… ![“That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. We had to write choral pieces in the style of Brahms or Mendelssohn, which was distressing because in the end you realized how good Brahms is, and how bad you are.” quote by Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/elliott-carter-23733_big-problem_that-was-one-of-the-big-problems-when-i_899775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/elliott-carter-23733_big-problem_that-was-one-of-the-big-problems-when-i_899775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/elliott-carter-23733_big-problem_that-was-one-of-the-big-problems-when-i_899775.png) > “That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. We had to write choral pieces in the style of Brahms or Mendelssohn, which was distressing because in the end you realized how good Brahms is, and how bad you are.” [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying past masters can reveal personal limits, prompting growth beyond imitation. **In simple terms:** Learning from masters shows where you stand. Key Takeaway Use mastery as a springboard, not a ceiling. Themes self‑assessment growth musical tradition Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational reflective When to use this quote - composition classes - personal practice - mentor feedback Key Concepts comparative analysis creative development humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn perceived inadequacy into motivation? - What steps foster original voice after studying masters? A Different Perspective Risk of discouragement from self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distressing/) [Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mendelssohn/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you go to Japan for instance, you should know that they have a different way of playing Beethoven or Brahms. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/if-you-go-to-japan-for-instance-you-should-know-that-they-have-a/) [Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/) > [The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising is Beethoven’s. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joachim/the-germans-have-four-violin-concertos-the-greatest-most/) Joseph Joachim > [The picture of Kant as the 'theological Robespierre' or the "world-crusher" was first suggested by someone with whom Kant stood in a relation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/the-picture-of-kant-as-the-theological-robespierre-or-the-world/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is time to remind Sharon that the star of David belongs to all Jews, not to his repulsive Government. His actions are staining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-kaufman/it-is-time-to-remind-sharon-that-the-star-of-david-belongs-to-all/) [Gerald Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-kaufman/) > [When the student has her voice under complete control, it is safe to take up the lyric repertoire of Mendelssohn, Old English Songs, etc.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-gluck/when-the-student-has-her-voice-under-complete-control-it-is-safe-to/) [Alma Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-gluck/) > [It was an important part of Mendelssohn's philosophical and religious view that the traditional rationalist proofs for God's existence should be sound an convincing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-was-an-important-part-of-mendelssohn-s-philosophical-and-religious/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [“If, as Moses Mendelssohn maintains, Judaism is not a religion but a revealed legislation, it seems strange that such a God should be its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/if-as-moses-mendelssohn-maintains-judaism-is-not-a-religion-but-a/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [ \[Moses\] Mendelssohn was a religious Jew. I felt sorry for him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/moses-mendelssohn-was-a-religious-jew-i-felt-sorry-for-him/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [ I developed an anger at \[Moses\] Mendelssohn. Later, I read the book. I realized there was nothing subversive in it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-developed-an-anger-at-moses-mendelssohn-later-i-read-the-book-i/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I once painted a concert singer and on the chestnut frame I carved the opening bars of Mendelssohn's Rest in the Lord. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-eakins/i-once-painted-a-concert-singer-and-on-the-chestnut-frame-i-carved/) [Thomas Eakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-eakins/) > [ I became one of \[Moses Mendelssohn\] defenders. But then I heard the words "Biblical criticism" again. And, of course, afterward, I studied it more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-became-one-of-moses-mendelssohn-defenders-but-then-i-heard-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I stayed at home because I prefer to be in my own room, with my own family, or in my garden — which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-mendelssohn/i-stayed-at-home-because-i-prefer-to-be-in-my-own-room-with-my-own/) [Felix Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-mendelssohn/) > [The years 1781 to 1793 are crucial for many reasons, but chiefly because they pose in an especially clear way the main problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-c-beiser/the-years-1781-to-1793-are-crucial-for-many-reasons-but-chiefly/) [Frederick C. Beiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-c-beiser/) > [According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-starr-miller/according-to-miller-pharisee-judaism-is-not-a-religion-at-all-but-a/) Edith Starr Miller > [“Mendelssohn’s books on philosophy and literature were hailed throughout Europe. He was described as “exceptional”—an “un-Jewish Jew,” one of a kind, a genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-goldstein/mendelssohn-s-books-on-philosophy-and-literature-were-hailed/) [Phyllis Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-goldstein/) ## More by Elliott Carter > [My entire life has really revolved around music that was written about the time that I was born, 1908, to just before the First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/my-entire-life-has-really-revolved-around-music-that-was-written/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [When people listen to my music, I hope that they will notice that if you take a piece by a composer like Schubert, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/when-people-listen-to-my-music-i-hope-that-they-will-notice-that-if/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Then, when the Depression came, all of this changed completely. Since that time, the entire public is of a very different sort and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/then-when-the-depression-came-all-of-this-changed-completely-since/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Aaron Copland was a man that had a very specific point of view about what music should be which was that, he felt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/aaron-copland-was-a-man-that-had-a-very-specific-point-of-view-about/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [These wealthy people were very interested in contemporary music. They wanted to help diffuse it and get it to be known to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/these-wealthy-people-were-very-interested-in-contemporary-music-they/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [In any case, Ives encouraged me to go into music even though he himself had such a hard time being a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/in-any-case-ives-encouraged-me-to-go-into-music-even-though-he/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Well when I was young, when I was very young, when I was a little boy I don't remember the music I heard, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/well-when-i-was-young-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-a-little-boy-i/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [The first thing that struck me about contemporary music in general had been thatthere was not much interest in rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/the-first-thing-that-struck-me-about-contemporary-music-in-general/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Silences between movements are employed only in order to bring the opposing duo to the fore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/silences-between-movements-are-employed-only-in-order-to-bring-the/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Since I'm allergic to various things, the army wouldn't accept me during the war, and I got into the Office of War Information, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/since-i-m-allergic-to-various-things-the-army-wouldn-t-accept-me/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Talking about a materialistic thing, I get about 13 times more royalties from Europe than I do from America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/talking-about-a-materialistic-thing-i-get-about-13-times-more/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Right at the end of the war I wrote a piano sonata, which was written at a time when Sam Barber used to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/right-at-the-end-of-the-war-i-wrote-a-piano-sonata-which-was-written/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [I've known those pieces ever since I was about 16 or 17; I also at that time was taken to meet Charles Ives whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/i-ve-known-those-pieces-ever-since-i-was-about-16-or-17-i-also-at/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [Why write for the orchestra? For one thing it's a very challenging problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/why-write-for-the-orchestra-for-one-thing-it-s-a-very-challenging/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [It was only later on that I became more interested in older music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/it-was-only-later-on-that-i-became-more-interested-in-older-music/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) [Explore all 25 Elliott Carter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) ## More Big problem quotes > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [“For me -- for pretty much every writer -- the big problem isn't piracy, it's obscurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/for-me-for-pretty-much-every-writer-the-big-problem-isn-t-piracy-it-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [The big problem retailers are facing is the world is moving to mobile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/the-big-problem-retailers-are-facing-is-the-world-is-moving-to-mobile/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [It was lonely on the hill, and cold. And all you could do was keep going. You could scream, cry, and stamp your feet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-lonely-on-the-hill-and-cold-and-all-you-could-do-was-keep/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Its a big problem for American movies that all their movies are produced to be global.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-big-problem-for-american-movies-that-all-their-movies-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“answer. Donald’s dysfunctional belief was related to Janine’s, but he’d held on to it for much longer—a life of responsible and successful work should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/answer-donald-s-dysfunctional-belief-was-related-to-janine-s-but-he-d/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [The big problem is just this kind of gigantic piece, of kids reading less and liking it less and so getting worse at it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/the-big-problem-is-just-this-kind-of-gigantic-piece-of-kids-reading/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [I do have a very, very big problem with someone who saw me coming and exploited me as a mascot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-vine/i-do-have-a-very-very-big-problem-with-someone-who-saw-me-coming-and/) [Stella Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-vine/) > [Don't tell GOD that u have a Big Problem,Tell your Problem that u have a Big GOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-tell-god-that-u-have-a-big-problem-tell-your-problem-that-u/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [We're facing growing climate change, more floods, more droughts, more crisis on a planetary level, and the systems we put in place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-re-facing-growing-climate-change-more-floods-more-droughts-more/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“That's my big problem. That's it! Before the Arrival,guys like Evan Walker never looked twice at me, much less shot wild game for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/that-s-my-big-problem-that-s-it-before-the-arrival-guys-like-evan/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Well, capitalism is a big problem, because with capitalism you're just going to keep buying and selling things until there's nothing else to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/well-capitalism-is-a-big-problem-because-with-capitalism-you-re-just/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) Browse all 430 Big problem quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. 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