--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The creation and destruction of harmonic…" description: "\"The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical' tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. Any composition (or improvi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/frank-zappa-702_cheese_the-creation-and-destruction-of-harmonic_2887470.jpg" --- # The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical'… ![“The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical' tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. Any composition (or improvisation) which remains consonant and 'regular' throughout is, for me, equivalent to watching a movie with only 'good guys' in it, or eating cottage…” quote by Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/frank-zappa-702_cheese_the-creation-and-destruction-of-harmonic_2887470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/frank-zappa-702_cheese_the-creation-and-destruction-of-harmonic_2887470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/frank-zappa-702_cheese_the-creation-and-destruction-of-harmonic_2887470.jpg) > “The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical' tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. Any composition (or improvisation) which remains consonant and 'regular' throughout is, for me, equivalent to watching a movie with only 'good guys' in it, or eating cottage cheese.” [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tension and release are essential for engaging composition; monotony is dull. **In simple terms:** Drama needs tension and release. Key Takeaway Embrace creative tension. Themes music composition drama tension Mood analytical creative Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - improvisation - performance critique Key Concepts music theory psychology artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does tension affect your listening? - When do you appreciate regularity? A Different Perspective Some listeners prefer calm music. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cottages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation and destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-and-destruction/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Good guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guys/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Watching A Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-a-movie/) ## Related quotes > [Most of my music is improvisation, and composition is improvisation. Even if I have a score, it is improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshi-wada/most-of-my-music-is-improvisation-and-composition-is-improvisation/) [Yoshi Wada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshi-wada/) > [In 1968 I ran into Steve Lacy on the street in Rome. I took out my pocket tape recorder and asked him to describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-rzewski/in-1968-i-ran-into-steve-lacy-on-the-street-in-rome-i-took-out-my/) Frederic Rzewski > [I don't think I differentiate between composition and improvisation. Improvisation could be a large part of a composition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshi-wada/i-don-t-think-i-differentiate-between-composition-and-improvisation/) [Yoshi Wada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshi-wada/) > [“A loose generalization would have it that creation and destruction go hand in hand. But my destruction takes the form of trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kroetsch/a-loose-generalization-would-have-it-that-creation-and-destruction-go/) [Robert Kroetsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kroetsch/) > [“There is no end or purpose to existence, only ceaseless creation and destruction, governed entirely by chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-end-or-purpose-to-existence-only-ceaseless-creation-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think morality is more important than ever before. As we gain more power, the question of what we do with it becomes more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-think-morality-is-more-important-than-ever-before-as-we-gain-more/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“Creation and destruction are one, to the eyes who can see beauty. And the greatest praise to India is this: not only are her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savitri-devi/creation-and-destruction-are-one-to-the-eyes-who-can-see-beauty-and/) [Savitri Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savitri-devi/) > [Modern physics has... revealed that every sub-atomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/modern-physics-has-revealed-that-every-sub-atomic-particle-not-only/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [Modern physics had shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/modern-physics-had-shown-that-the-rhythm-of-creation-and-destruction/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [“In the twenty-first century, those who ride the train of progress will acquire divine abilities of creation and destruction, while those left behind will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/in-the-twenty-first-century-those-who-ride-the-train-of-progress-will/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“My art is an act of creation and destruction, with all the sorrow and joy these engender as well as all the shadow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-v-white/my-art-is-an-act-of-creation-and-destruction-with-all-the-sorrow-and/) [Kathryn V. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-v-white/) > [“Seventy thousand years ago, Homo sapiens was still an insignificant animal minding its own business in a corner of Africa. In the following millennia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/seventy-thousand-years-ago-homo-sapiens-was-still-an-insignificant/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Creation and destruction are the two ends of the same moment. And everything between the creation and the next destruction is the journey of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/creation-and-destruction-are-the-two-ends-of-the-same-moment-and/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“...the relationships between the five elements. What are the five elements? They are wood, fire, earth, metal, water. These create, and also destroy, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/the-relationships-between-the-five-elements-what-are-the-five/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Philosophy is the theory of multiplicities, each of which is composed of actual and virtual elements. Purely actual objects do not exist. Every actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/philosophy-is-the-theory-of-multiplicities-each-of-which-is-composed/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) ## More by Frank Zappa > [If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/if-you-want-to-get-laid-go-to-college-if-you-want-an-education-go-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [While your children are sleeping, your puppy is crappin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/while-your-children-are-sleeping-your-puppy-is-crappin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Very few people do covers of my tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/very-few-people-do-covers-of-my-tunes/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Government is the Entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/government-is-the-entertainment-division-of-the-military-industrial/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Do your job and do it right, life's a ball, TV tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/do-your-job-and-do-it-right-life-s-a-ball-tv-tonight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world. There's a world, you see which has people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/fact-of-the-matter-is-there-is-no-hip-world-there-is-no-straight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Broken hearts are for assholes, are you an asshole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/broken-hearts-are-for-assholes-are-you-an-asshole/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Anyone who is disturbed by the idea of newts in a nightclub is potentially dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/anyone-who-is-disturbed-by-the-idea-of-newts-in-a-nightclub-is/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-bigger-the-cushion-the-better-the-pushin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Give me the enchilada with the pickle sauce shoved up between the donkey's ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/give-me-the-enchilada-with-the-pickle-sauce-shoved-up-between-the/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Sit and spin 'til you rot on the cosmic utensil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/sit-and-spin-til-you-rot-on-the-cosmic-utensil/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [To me absurdity is the only reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/to-me-absurdity-is-the-only-reality/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Is this something new, having people stomp on you? Is it what I need to do for your pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/is-this-something-new-having-people-stomp-on-you-is-it-what-i-need-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/look-here-brother-who-you-jivin-with-that-cosmik-debris/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) [Explore all 400 Frank Zappa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## More Cheese quotes > [I have a lot of secret uses for sour cream, which is the magic ingredient in my mac and cheese. It's an old-timey, Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/i-have-a-lot-of-secret-uses-for-sour-cream-which-is-the-magic/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [“Rachel could sell cheese to vegans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-frazer/rachel-could-sell-cheese-to-vegans/) Megan Frazer > [Grew up in a small town where there was only one crazy guy. He didn't even go insane doing anything good, like going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/grew-up-in-a-small-town-where-there-was-only-one-crazy-guy-he-didn-t/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [It's still possible to savor the remarkable foods that millennia of human ingenuity have teased from milk. A sip of milk itself or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-mcgee/it-s-still-possible-to-savor-the-remarkable-foods-that-millennia-of/) Harold McGee > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [There should be a burnished tablet let into the ground on the spot where some courageous man first ate Stilton cheese, and survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-should-be-a-burnished-tablet-let-into-the-ground-on-the-spot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tacos." "Tacos?" I echoed. This seemed to amuse him. "Tomatoes, lettuce, cheese." "I know what a taco is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/tacos-tacos-i-echoed-this-seemed-to-amuse-him-tomatoes-lettuce-cheese/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I happen to enjoy grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-feeney/i-happen-to-enjoy-grilled-cheese-and-tomato-sandwiches/) [Chuck Feeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-feeney/) > [When you look like I do its hard to get a table for one at Chucky Cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/when-you-look-like-i-do-its-hard-to-get-a-table-for-one-at-chucky/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I would love a sandwich,' said Tybalt, with enough gravity to make it sound like a formal proclamation. Resolved: that we will have ham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-love-a-sandwich-said-tybalt-with-enough-gravity-to-make-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With iPad publishing, you can try new things, experiment, and even launch new magazines without the massive risk normally associated with print publishing. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kelby/with-ipad-publishing-you-can-try-new-things-experiment-and-even/) [Scott Kelby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kelby/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-early-bird-gets-the-worm-but-the-second-mouse-gets-the-cheese/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Aye ! Cream cheese & a bagle . Have a glass of milk & an ego . I'm rockin' pj's with no shirt . I smoke weed , eat yogurt .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/aye-cream-cheese-a-bagle-have-a-glass-of-milk-an-ego-i-m-rockin-pj-s/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) Browse all 908 Cheese quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The creation and destruction of harmonic and 'statistical' tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. 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