--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sing in languages that I speak. So when…" description: "\"I sing in languages that I speak. So when I'm singing a Schubert song, I know precisely what every word means and, you know, when it was composed and w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/jessye-norman-13345_composed_i-sing-in-languages-that-i-speak-so-when_1866260.jpg" --- # I sing in languages that I speak. So when I'm singing a… ![“I sing in languages that I speak. So when I'm singing a Schubert song, I know precisely what every word means and, you know, when it was composed and who was the poet and all of that and whether Strauss or Wagner or French Belioz, Duparc or Debussy or whatever.” quote by Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/jessye-norman-13345_composed_i-sing-in-languages-that-i-speak-so-when_1866260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/jessye-norman-13345_composed_i-sing-in-languages-that-i-speak-so-when_1866260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/jessye-norman-13345_composed_i-sing-in-languages-that-i-speak-so-when_1866260.jpg) > “I sing in languages that I speak. So when I'm singing a Schubert song, I know precisely what every word means and, you know, when it was composed and who was the poet and all of that and whether Strauss or Wagner or French Belioz, Duparc or Debussy or whatever.” [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes that understanding language deepens musical interpretation and emotional connection. **In simple terms:** Knowing lyrics enriches singing. Key Takeaway Study words before performing. Themes music language interpretation Mood thoughtful educational Type artistic practical When to use this quote - opera rehearsals - multilingual performances - educational workshops Key Concepts linguistics artistic authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does language knowledge affect emotional delivery? - What methods help singers learn lyrics quickly? A Different Perspective Time constraints can limit study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composed/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/languages/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Precisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precisely/) [Schubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schubert/) [Schubert Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schubert-song-2544928/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-languages-2544929/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Schubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-schubert-2544927/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wagner/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [A Schubert song, the A-major chord at the opening of Wagner's 'Lohengrin' - such incredible beauty is a mystery, the divinity of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-menotti/a-schubert-song-the-a-major-chord-at-the-opening-of-wagner-s/) [Gian Carlo Menotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-menotti/) > [I sing in Hungarian. I read Hungarian. I do not pretend to speak Hungarian, but I sing in languages that I have studied as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-sing-in-hungarian-i-read-hungarian-i-do-not-pretend-to-speak/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I never listen to music when I am writing. It would be impossible. I listen to Bach in the mornings, mostly choral music; also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-never-listen-to-music-when-i-am-writing-it-would-be-impossible-i/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [A culture that gave the world the spiritual creations of the Classical Music of Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner and Schubert, the paintings of Michelangelo, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/a-culture-that-gave-the-world-the-spiritual-creations-of-the/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Brahms believed that there was no need to publish absolutely everything that Schubert ever wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/brahms-believed-that-there-was-no-need-to-publish-absolutely/) [Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/) > [In his larger forms, Schubert is a wanderer. He likes to move at the edge of the precipice, and does so with the assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/in-his-larger-forms-schubert-is-a-wanderer-he-likes-to-move-at-the/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [Mozart is a garden, Schubert is a forest in light and shade, but Beethoven is a mountain range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-schnabel/mozart-is-a-garden-schubert-is-a-forest-in-light-and-shade-but/) [Artur Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-schnabel/) > [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/) > [I planted some jokes in my wedding. Like, the organizers asked me to select music. So when I approached wife at the ceremony, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-planted-some-jokes-in-my-wedding-like-the-organizers-asked-me-to/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [The cause of freedom, in music as elsewhere, is now very nearly triumphant; but at a time when its adversaries were many and powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-reginald-haweis/the-cause-of-freedom-in-music-as-elsewhere-is-now-very-nearly/) [Hugh Reginald Haweis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-reginald-haweis/) > [“That’s why I like to listen to Schubert while I’m driving. Like I said, it’s because all the performances are imperfect. A dense, artistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/that-s-why-i-like-to-listen-to-schubert-while-i-m-driving-like-i-said/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/in-my-study-i-can-lay-my-hand-on-the-bible-in-the-pitch-dark-all/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [At first I thought I should be a second Beethoven; presently I found that to be another Schubert would be good; then gradually, satisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/engelbert-humperdinck/at-first-i-thought-i-should-be-a-second-beethoven-presently-i-found/) [Engelbert Humperdinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/engelbert-humperdinck/) > [“As she went on with her labour, she became aware that she had Schubert's Erl-King going around in her head. It wasn't the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelie-nothomb/as-she-went-on-with-her-labour-she-became-aware-that-she-had-schubert/) [Amélie Nothomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelie-nothomb/) > [I bring my classical training - some of it, but not all of it - and also my background and culture, to spirituals. 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I am unable to say a word I can't spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-have-a-particular-affliction-i-am-unable-to-say-a-word-i-can-t-spell/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [The high notes always hard to hit. I mean, one has to understand how high notes even happen. The vocal cords have to vibrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/the-high-notes-always-hard-to-hit-i-mean-one-has-to-understand-how/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I want to sing more in Spanish. I want to sing the songs of Granados; the songs of Montsalvatge. To do things that truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-want-to-sing-more-in-spanish-i-want-to-sing-the-songs-of-granados/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I love singing jazz. I don't like the idea that classical music should be over here and jazz should be someplace else. It's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-love-singing-jazz-i-don-t-like-the-idea-that-classical-music-should/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I wasn't born Austrian; I wasn't born German. My roots are from Africa, and I do not have any reason for not wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-wasn-t-born-austrian-i-wasn-t-born-german-my-roots-are-from-africa/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > ['Swan,' by Mary Oliver. Poems and prose. Reading from this book is as if visiting a very wise friend. There is wisdom and welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/swan-by-mary-oliver-poems-and-prose-reading-from-this-book-is-as-if/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/if-you-send-up-a-weather-vane-or-put-your-thumb-up-in-the-air-every/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There's no anger ever in a spiritual. There's always the dream of a hope of a better day coming. That God understands the troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/there-s-no-anger-ever-in-a-spiritual-there-s-always-the-dream-of-a/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I enjoy reading about the lives of musicians, and find many similarities in their ideas of preparation and their utter devotion to this great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-enjoy-reading-about-the-lives-of-musicians-and-find-many/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [As for my voice, it cannot be categorized-and I like it that way, because I sing things that would be considered in the dramatic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/as-for-my-voice-it-cannot-be-categorized-and-i-like-it-that-way/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [The very best thing that could happen to a voice, if it shows any promise at all, is when it is very young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/the-very-best-thing-that-could-happen-to-a-voice-if-it-shows-any/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There have been occasions - and I think it's very good for any human being that such occasions would be rare - that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/there-have-been-occasions-and-i-think-it-s-very-good-for-any-human/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [We singers have a different level of responsibility from other musicians. We have words that we must convey; we have meanings that we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/we-singers-have-a-different-level-of-responsibility-from-other/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) [Explore all 50 Jessye Norman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) ## More Composed quotes > [I believe so, but at first he must know. He must know in which spirit Beethoven has composed this piece. He must try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/i-believe-so-but-at-first-he-must-know-he-must-know-in-which-spirit/) [Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/) > [I must say I've always composed music from the point of view of the performers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-piston/i-must-say-i-ve-always-composed-music-from-the-point-of-view-of-the/) [Walter Piston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-piston/) > [“because human lives are composed in precisely such a fashion. They are composed like music”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kundera-milan/because-human-lives-are-composed-in-precisely-such-a-fashion-they-are/) [Kundera Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kundera-milan/) > [Clearly, 9/11 would have to be some of the best work that I've done because I was working without a template, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-banfield/clearly-9-11-would-have-to-be-some-of-the-best-work-that-i-ve-done/) [Ashleigh Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-banfield/) > [Has a world composed of "us" and "not us" been invaded at last?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bisco-hatori/has-a-world-composed-of-us-and-not-us-been-invaded-at-last/) [Bisco Hatori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bisco-hatori/) > [It is with a company as it is with a punch, everything depends upon the ingredients of which it in composed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/it-is-with-a-company-as-it-is-with-a-punch-everything-depends-upon/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [When I met Zaeden, I bonded well with him he had an instrumental piece ready so we worked on it, composed, and added lyrics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/when-i-met-zaeden-i-bonded-well-with-him-he-had-an-instrumental-piece/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [I'm calm and composed, and I don't expect a lot from anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-m-calm-and-composed-and-i-don-t-expect-a-lot-from-anyone/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [When I composed, I heard my music played by the orchestra within days of completion of the score. No master at a conservatory, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/when-i-composed-i-heard-my-music-played-by-the-orchestra-within-days/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [“Forever is composed of nows. Das 'Für immer' besteht aus vielen 'jetzt'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/forever-is-composed-of-nows-das-f-r-immer-besteht-aus-vielen-jetzt/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I have composed music for many city-based movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/i-have-composed-music-for-many-city-based-movies/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [If one wants to go on living, one must evolve. Before, when we composed, we would start by a series of music themes. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-leigh/if-one-wants-to-go-on-living-one-must-evolve-before-when-we-composed/) [Mitch Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-leigh/) > [“I guess we're all composed of a lot of mistakes; we just have to figure out how to take our mistakes and make something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-guess-we-re-all-composed-of-a-lot-of-mistakes-we-just-have-to/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule. Nevertheless one had better know the rules, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-music-it-must-be-composed-by-ear-feeling-and-instinct/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just... my childhood seems, when I look back, to be largely composed of reading, lying on the bed. I mean, my mother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-just-my-childhood-seems-when-i-look-back-to-be-largely-composed-of/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) [Browse all 99 Composed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I sing in languages that I speak. 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