--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The composer does not sit around and wait…" description: "\"The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else than a matter of inve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/george-gershwin-16455_composer_the-composer-does-not-sit-around-and-wai_2360432.jpg" --- # The composer does not sit around and wait for an… ![“The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else than a matter of invention aided and abetted by emotion. In composing we combine what we know of music with what we feel.” quote by George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/george-gershwin-16455_composer_the-composer-does-not-sit-around-and-wai_2360432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/george-gershwin-16455_composer_the-composer-does-not-sit-around-and-wai_2360432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/george-gershwin-16455_composer_the-composer-does-not-sit-around-and-wai_2360432.jpg) > “The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else than a matter of invention aided and abetted by emotion. In composing we combine what we know of music with what we feel.” [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiration does not wait; creating music blends knowledge with feeling, turning emotion into invention. **In simple terms:** Music creation mixes skill and emotion. Key Takeaway Combine technical mastery with emotional honesty. Themes creativity music emotion process craft Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic process When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - teaching - collaboration Key Concepts artistic invention emotional expression skill development Questions to Reflect On - What emotions fuel your creative work? - How do you balance technique and feeling? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on emotion may neglect disciplined practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Making Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/not-many-composers-have-ideas-far-more-of-them-know-how-to-use/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [The greatest composer does not sit down to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/the-greatest-composer-does-not-sit-down-to-work-because-he-is/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [When you're making video, you're giving structure to time, which is what a composer does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-viola/when-you-re-making-video-you-re-giving-structure-to-time-which-is/) [Bill Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-viola/) > [The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/the-great-composer-does-not-set-to-work-because-he-is-inspired-but-2/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/the-great-composer-does-not-set-to-work-because-he-is-inspired-but/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-ravel/you-might-lose-your-spontaneity-and-instead-of-composing-first-rate/) [Maurice Ravel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-ravel/) > [An entire composition written in jazz could not live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/an-entire-composition-written-in-jazz-could-not-live/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Out of my entire annual output of songs, perhaps two, or at the most three, came as a result of inspiration. We can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/out-of-my-entire-annual-output-of-songs-perhaps-two-or-at-the-most/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [I frequently hear music in the heart of noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/i-frequently-hear-music-in-the-heart-of-noise/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [The European boys have small ideas but they sure know how to dress 'em up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/the-european-boys-have-small-ideas-but-they-sure-know-how-to-dress-em/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Jazz is the result of the energy stored up in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-is-the-result-of-the-energy-stored-up-in-america/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-i-regard-as-an-american-folk-music-not-the-only-one-but-a-very/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Gershwin's melodic gift was phenomenal. His songs contain the essence of New York in the 1920s and have deservedly become classics of their kind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/gershwin-s-melodic-gift-was-phenomenal-his-songs-contain-the-essence/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [When jazz is played in another nation, it is called American. When it is played in another country, it sounds false. Jazz is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/when-jazz-is-played-in-another-nation-it-is-called-american-when-it/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/porgy-is-an-interesting-example-of-what-can-be-done-by-talent-in/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) ## More by George Gershwin > [True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/true-music-must-repeat-the-thought-and-inspirations-of-the-people-and/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [The extraordinary thing about my mother, she's so modest about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/the-extraordinary-thing-about-my-mother-she-s-so-modest-about-me/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/porgy-is-an-interesting-example-of-what-can-be-done-by-talent-in/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Gershwin's melodic gift was phenomenal. His songs contain the essence of New York in the 1920s and have deservedly become classics of their kind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/gershwin-s-melodic-gift-was-phenomenal-his-songs-contain-the-essence/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/not-many-composers-have-ideas-far-more-of-them-know-how-to-use/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Life is a lot like jazz... it's best when you improvise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/life-is-a-lot-like-jazz-it-s-best-when-you-improvise/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [I didn't even start playing the piano until I was about 13 or 14. I guess I must have had a little talent or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/i-didn-t-even-start-playing-the-piano-until-i-was-about-13-or-14-i/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-i-regard-as-an-american-folk-music-not-the-only-one-but-a-very/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Out of my entire annual output of songs, perhaps two, or at the most three, came as a result of inspiration. We can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/out-of-my-entire-annual-output-of-songs-perhaps-two-or-at-the-most/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [An entire composition written in jazz could not live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/an-entire-composition-written-in-jazz-could-not-live/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [I frequently hear music in the heart of noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/i-frequently-hear-music-in-the-heart-of-noise/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/true-music-must-repeat-the-thought-and-inspirations-of-the-people-and-2/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [It is always possible to create something original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/it-is-always-possible-to-create-something-original/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [The European boys have small ideas but they sure know how to dress 'em up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/the-european-boys-have-small-ideas-but-they-sure-know-how-to-dress-em/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Jazz is the result of the energy stored up in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-is-the-result-of-the-energy-stored-up-in-america/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) [Explore all 39 George Gershwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) ## More Composer quotes > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) Hanns Eisler > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) Michael Brecker > [“- Mom, can I tell them there that I'm Romanian? - Sure, why not tell them? - I was thinking that they wouldn't think...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-enescu/mom-can-i-tell-them-there-that-i-m-romanian-sure-why-not-tell-them-i/) George Enescu > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [If a composer could state in words what being a composer means, he would no longer need to be a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-rorem/if-a-composer-could-state-in-words-what-being-a-composer-means-he/) [Ned Rorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-rorem/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) Ernest Gold > [I think there's just been this "thing" that's developed, this way that we have of talking about our music that alienates people. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-mazzoli/i-think-there-s-just-been-this-thing-that-s-developed-this-way-that/) [Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-mazzoli/) > [The ability to understand and deliver comedy and tragedy is extremely rare in one composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/the-ability-to-understand-and-deliver-comedy-and-tragedy-is-extremely/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) > [When synthesizers appeared everyone was a composer suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-synthesizers-appeared-everyone-was-a-composer-suddenly/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beebe/the-beauty-and-genius-of-a-work-of-art-may-be-reconceived-though-its/) [William Beebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beebe/) > [Every time I see a film or TV show, I think about how that composer made those choices and how that director envisioned music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/every-time-i-see-a-film-or-tv-show-i-think-about-how-that-composer/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [Like any other composer of opera, I choose a subject not for polemical reasons, but because it contains vivid characters in highly charged dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/like-any-other-composer-of-opera-i-choose-a-subject-not-for-polemical/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) [Browse all 885 Composer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else than a matter of invention aided and abetted by emotion. 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