--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is…" description: "\"Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so precisely that it can only be the way it is.\" — Esa-Pekka Salonen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg" --- # Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so… ![“Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so precisely that it can only be the way it is.” quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg) > “Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so precisely that it can only be the way it is.” [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His precise harmonic design leaves no room for alternative structures. **In simple terms:** Harmony is deliberately crafted. Key Takeaway Appreciate meticulous composition. Themes music composition precision Mood analytical respectful Type critical educational When to use this quote - listening to classical works - studying scores - teaching music theory Key Concepts harmonic theory creative intent Questions to Reflect On - How does precision affect emotional impact? - Can strict harmony be innovative? A Different Perspective Complexity may limit spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceived Precisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceived-precisely-2323128/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Harmony Conceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony-conceived-2323127/) [Masterly Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterly-harmony-2323126/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stravinsky/) [Stravinsky Masterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stravinsky-masterly-2323125/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I've learned a lot from the masters of orchestration, like Ravel and Stravinsky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-ve-learned-a-lot-from-the-masters-of-orchestration-like-ravel-and/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/pulse-as-an-active-means-of-expression-stravinsky-and-beethoven-are/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Bernard Herrmann used to write all his scores by himself. So did Bach, Beethoven and Stravinsky. I dont understand why this happens in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ennio-morricone/bernard-herrmann-used-to-write-all-his-scores-by-himself-so-did-bach/) [Ennio Morricone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ennio-morricone/) > [“In his autobiography Stravinsky relates that the first music he remembers was made by a peasant, working his hand in his armpit to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-raine/in-his-autobiography-stravinsky-relates-that-the-first-music-he/) [Craig Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-raine/) > [I've got a very wide taste in art. I like Russian icon painters. I like Salvador Dali. It's like music. Sometimes you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-webber/i-ve-got-a-very-wide-taste-in-art-i-like-russian-icon-painters-i-like/) [Peter Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-webber/) > [There is this tremendous amount of arrogance and hubris, where somebody can look at something for five minutes and dismiss it. Whether you talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/there-is-this-tremendous-amount-of-arrogance-and-hubris-where/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“The racist regime thought classical music was for the white audience only. Stravinsky insisted on performing for the black audience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bbc-african-journalist/the-racist-regime-thought-classical-music-was-for-the-white-audience/) [BBC African journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bbc-african-journalist/) > [I'm not Stravinsky, I never will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-not-stravinsky-i-never-will-be/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [I had no idea Stravinsky disliked Debussy so much as this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/i-had-no-idea-stravinsky-disliked-debussy-so-much-as-this/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [New music? Hell, there's been no new music since Stravinsky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/new-music-hell-there-s-been-no-new-music-since-stravinsky/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [The first music I was exposed to was Stravinsky and I loved it but I don't remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/the-first-music-i-was-exposed-to-was-stravinsky-and-i-loved-it-but-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [In two thousand years all our generals and politicians may be forgotten, but Einstein and Madame Curie and Bernard Shaw and Stravinsky will keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/in-two-thousand-years-all-our-generals-and-politicians-may-be/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“The man has accumulated a repertoire of facial tics and blinks that demand nothing less than a complete musical score by Stravinsky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-has-accumulated-a-repertoire-of-facial-tics-and-blinks-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The trombone and side-drums in the chamber music of Stravinsky will do well enough in a very smart house-party where all the conversation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-francis-tovey/the-trombone-and-side-drums-in-the-chamber-music-of-stravinsky-will/) [Donald Francis Tovey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-francis-tovey/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) ## More by Esa-Pekka Salonen > [ There is something very special about this part of the world \[U.S\], which is the openness and the curiosity and the lack of prejudice… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/there-is-something-very-special-about-this-part-of-the-world-u-s/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Every orchestra I know, every opera house I know, is desperately looking around trying to find new talent, new composing talent, supporting young composers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/every-orchestra-i-know-every-opera-house-i-know-is-desperately/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/after-30-years-i-have-realized-the-greatest-pleasure-i-can-get-is-to/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Anyone who composes and conducts at the same time is immediately suspect, because he must be faking one or the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/anyone-who-composes-and-conducts-at-the-same-time-is-immediately/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I started conducting lessons and I realized that this is actually something I like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-started-conducting-lessons-and-i-realized-that-this-is-actually/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I feel very free and very happy to be a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-feel-very-free-and-very-happy-to-be-a-composer/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I love a visceral sound, the kind that hits you in the belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-love-a-visceral-sound-the-kind-that-hits-you-in-the-belly/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [We need new art. Old art cannot do that. It can do lots of other things, and of course humanity hasn't changed that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/we-need-new-art-old-art-cannot-do-that-it-can-do-lots-of-other-things/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/pulse-as-an-active-means-of-expression-stravinsky-and-beethoven-are/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The underlying process in Northern music tends to be slower and continuous, whatever's happening on the surface; in Southern music the underlying process is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/the-underlying-process-in-northern-music-tends-to-be-slower-and/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The Royal Festival Hall in London is nice; people hang out there. I think this inviting, non-exclusive character is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/the-royal-festival-hall-in-london-is-nice-people-hang-out-there-i/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [As we watch TV or films, there are no organic transitions, only edits. The idea of A becoming B, rather than A jumping to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/as-we-watch-tv-or-films-there-are-no-organic-transitions-only-edits/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I think we are in the process of getting the word out, and we haven't done very well yet. But we are trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-think-we-are-in-the-process-of-getting-the-word-out-and-we-haven-t/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [With American orchestras, in particular, because they play in such huge halls, getting a true pianissimo is very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/with-american-orchestras-in-particular-because-they-play-in-such-huge/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Sometimes you spend nine months, 10 months, a year writing a piece that you will hear two years later or something like that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/sometimes-you-spend-nine-months-10-months-a-year-writing-a-piece-that/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) [Explore all 81 Esa-Pekka Salonen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) ## More Harmony quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [“Disharmony at home or work is toxic to a person’s physical disposition and mental health.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/disharmony-at-home-or-work-is-toxic-to-a-person-s-physical/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [What a strange power the perception of beauty is! It seems to ebb and flow like some secret tide, independent alike of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/what-a-strange-power-the-perception-of-beauty-is-it-seems-to-ebb-and/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you long for peace, act in peace and harmony. If you want the world to change, start with the person in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-long-for-peace-act-in-peace-and-harmony-if-you-want-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The spirit of the West, of America, is different than the East. The cultural conditioning is very different. It seems to be harder for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-spirit-of-the-west-of-america-is-different-than-the-east-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Life is always great, when shared in a spirit of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-always-great-when-shared-in-a-spirit-of-love/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The peace of God is with them whose mind and soul are in harmony, who are free from desire and wrath, who know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-peace-of-god-is-with-them-whose-mind-and-soul-are-in-harmony-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every marriage is different, but the most important factor in a strong relationship is the love and harmony between the couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hema-malini/every-marriage-is-different-but-the-most-important-factor-in-a-strong/) [Hema Malini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hema-malini/) > [“We're supposed to strive for harmony, and that's what the art of tea is supposed to accomplish... but harmony is very, very difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/we-re-supposed-to-strive-for-harmony-and-that-s-what-the-art-of-tea/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) [Browse all 2,638 Harmony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so precisely that it can only be the way it is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esa-Pekka Salonen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-conceived-so-precisely-that-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harmony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-conceived-so-precisely-that-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/esa-pekka-salonen-8409_harmony_stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-co_1026915.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is conceived so precisely that it can only be the way it is.” — Esa-Pekka Salonen", "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": "Esa-Pekka Salonen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Stravinsky is masterly: his harmony is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-conceived-so-precisely-that-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/stravinsky-is-masterly-his-harmony-is-conceived-so-precisely-that-it/#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 } } ] } ```