--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could create music that sounded as…" description: "\"I could create music that sounded as strange as any electronic music, because you see, my opinion about electronic music is that the real composer is t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/glenn-branca-28370_buttons_i-could-create-music-that-sounded-as-str_2283978.jpg" --- # I could create music that sounded as strange as any… ![“I could create music that sounded as strange as any electronic music, because you see, my opinion about electronic music is that the real composer is the guy who invented the instrument. Pressing buttons is not composing. Composing is about creating something.” quote by Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/glenn-branca-28370_buttons_i-could-create-music-that-sounded-as-str_2283978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/glenn-branca-28370_buttons_i-could-create-music-that-sounded-as-str_2283978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/glenn-branca-28370_buttons_i-could-create-music-that-sounded-as-str_2283978.jpg) > “I could create music that sounded as strange as any electronic music, because you see, my opinion about electronic music is that the real composer is the guy who invented the instrument. Pressing buttons is not composing. Composing is about creating something.” [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that true composition lies in creating new sounds, not merely operating existing electronic instruments; the inventor of the instrument is the real composer. **In simple terms:** Real composition is about invention, not button‑pressing. Key Takeaway Focus on creating new tools, not just using them. Themes creativity technology authorship Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - music production - instrument design - educational workshops - artistic collaborations Key Concepts instrument invention aesthetic theory Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance invention with mastery of tools? - What defines a composer in the digital age? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of skillful manipulation of existing technology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buttons/) [Buttons Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buttons-composing-5341529/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing/) [Composing Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing-composing-5341528/) [Create Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-music-308995/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-something/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Electronic music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electronic-music/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a very optimistic person. I have the chance to listen to so much phenomenal music. Connecting with social networking to create music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/i-m-a-very-optimistic-person-i-have-the-chance-to-listen-to-so-much/) [Paul van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [I have always been far more interested in sound than technique, and how sounds work together, how they can be layered. I think electronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-have-always-been-far-more-interested-in-sound-than-technique-and/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [To study music, we must learn the rules. To create music, we must break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/to-study-music-we-must-learn-the-rules-to-create-music-we-must-break/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Music is about imagination. It's about thought. It's about creating something from nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/music-is-about-imagination-it-s-about-thought-it-s-about-creating/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I think of myself of a primitivist. I have never had any of these electronic instruments and I have never had the slightest interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-think-of-myself-of-a-primitivist-i-have-never-had-any-of-these/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Until the day I don't breathe, I will create music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/until-the-day-i-don-t-breathe-i-will-create-music/) [Gift of Gab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-of-gab/) > [God gave me a gift of singing and playing the piano, and when I do it, it's exciting, of course. But it's more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-gave-me-a-gift-of-singing-and-playing-the-piano-and-when-i-do-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're always as a musician trying to shock yourself or create music that's maybe even too weird for your own taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/you-re-always-as-a-musician-trying-to-shock-yourself-or-create-music/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I think that ultimately, when you create music that is proper music, then it becomes fundamental and anyone can relate to it or connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-nozuka/i-think-that-ultimately-when-you-create-music-that-is-proper-music/) [Justin Nozuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-nozuka/) > [If I would not be able to create music, I would create art or something else. Perhaps cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/if-i-would-not-be-able-to-create-music-i-would-create-art-or/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [I think 'Never Land' is, like, my first really strong attempt to create music... that can encourage people who share my faith but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mineo/i-think-never-land-is-like-my-first-really-strong-attempt-to-create/) [Andy Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mineo/) > [When I create music, it is a reflection of my soul, my experiences in life and my relationships with other people and cultures. Psychology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-i-create-music-it-is-a-reflection-of-my-soul-my-experiences-in/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [When you do a remix, obviously you get a beautiful melody, you get the beautiful vocals - everything is already set up. You already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-gervais/when-you-do-a-remix-obviously-you-get-a-beautiful-melody-you-get-the/) [Cedric Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-gervais/) > [We don't really worry about... what the audience might think. When we make a piece of music we don't worry whether they will like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/we-don-t-really-worry-about-what-the-audience-might-think-when-we/) [Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/) > [This new project, 'Excursions,' has been a trip down my own memory lane before 'Minecraft,' when I aspired to create music I could hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c418/this-new-project-excursions-has-been-a-trip-down-my-own-memory-lane/) [C418](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c418/) ## More by Glenn Branca > [I liked rock music going back to the '60s, but I never ever had any desire to be a rock musician and when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-liked-rock-music-going-back-to-the-60s-but-i-never-ever-had-any/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Whatever works for the piece I'm thinking about is the way I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/whatever-works-for-the-piece-i-m-thinking-about-is-the-way-i-write/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I started out in theatre and I definitely have wanted to add extra musical elements to my music with both imagery and text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-started-out-in-theatre-and-i-definitely-have-wanted-to-add-extra/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I'm constantly revising and updating a piece until it's finally recorded. Once it's recorded, then it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-m-constantly-revising-and-updating-a-piece-until-it-s-finally/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [One hundred guitarists making lots of noise would not be something you'd want to listen to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/one-hundred-guitarists-making-lots-of-noise-would-not-be-something/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I want the music to be ambiguous. Its tone gives you a context in which to start visualizing what you're feeling with the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-want-the-music-to-be-ambiguous-its-tone-gives-you-a-context-in/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [It's crucial that people are on the right measure at the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/it-s-crucial-that-people-are-on-the-right-measure-at-the-right-time/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Music is about imagination. It's about thought. It's about creating something from nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/music-is-about-imagination-it-s-about-thought-it-s-about-creating/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [It can and will be a more powerful sound but the orchestra has far more potential for expressive power. When I hear a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/it-can-and-will-be-a-more-powerful-sound-but-the-orchestra-has-far/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I'm never happy with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-m-never-happy-with-anything/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I like to read. I've become obsessed with fiction. And it's too bad: I'm a musician many people love and I myself am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-like-to-read-i-ve-become-obsessed-with-fiction-and-it-s-too-bad-i-m/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Occasionally I hear a band that blows me away. For instance, there's a musician in Oakland named Weasel Walter who has a band called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/occasionally-i-hear-a-band-that-blows-me-away-for-instance-there-s-a/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I think of myself of a primitivist. I have never had any of these electronic instruments and I have never had the slightest interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-think-of-myself-of-a-primitivist-i-have-never-had-any-of-these/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [It scares me that people are going to stop writing music. I don't mean music that has to be physically written down, but they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/it-scares-me-that-people-are-going-to-stop-writing-music-i-don-t-mean/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I'm just not arbitrarily choosing to have five guitars play one type of thing. In that way there's a definite similarity between a symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-m-just-not-arbitrarily-choosing-to-have-five-guitars-play-one-type/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) [Explore all 19 Glenn Branca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) ## More Buttons quotes > [J.D. cleared his throat and pushed the button on the intercom. “Uh, Payton, hi. It’s J.D.” Dead silence. Then another crackle. “Sorry. Not interested.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/j-d-cleared-his-throat-and-pushed-the-button-on-the-intercom-uh/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I feel a little more tired than usual, ... Ive had to recover from everything, my illnesses and things this summer. Its not perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-feel-a-little-more-tired-than-usual-ive-had-to-recover-from/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I can't really deal with buttons. And that's what I keep saying, "Okay, I can't push buttons, because that means I have to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/i-can-t-really-deal-with-buttons-and-that-s-what-i-keep-saying-okay-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to cipher.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-collodi/today-at-school-i-will-learn-to-read-at-once-then-tomorrow-i-will/) [Carlo Collodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-collodi/) > [“Some things are governed by common sense. Putting buttons on the front of a shirt is a matter of logic, since it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/some-things-are-governed-by-common-sense-putting-buttons-on-the-front/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Burn a Bush cause for peace he no push no button. 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I think we’ll see newspapers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-web-is-going-to-end-up-being-a-tremendous-advantage-providing-we/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [Any situation that pushes our buttons is a situation where we don't yet have the capacity to be unconditionally loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/any-situation-that-pushes-our-buttons-is-a-situation-where-we-don-t/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [American views today are weak, confused, and divided. On one side, many progressive liberals still think that we humans are essentially good and getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/american-views-today-are-weak-confused-and-divided-on-one-side-many/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [Nowadays, people shoot digitally and it's all in color, but you press a button and it all goes to black and white. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/nowadays-people-shoot-digitally-and-it-s-all-in-color-but-you-press-a/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The best thing to ever happen to marriage is the pause-live-TV button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-reilly/the-best-thing-to-ever-happen-to-marriage-is-the-pause-live-tv-button/) [Rick Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-reilly/) [Browse all 708 Buttons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buttons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could create music that sounded as strange as any electronic music, because you see, my opinion about electronic music is that the real composer is the guy who invented the instrument. Pressing buttons is not composing. 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