Asks Quote by Michel Legrand
“Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody. I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly. So I write melodies-thirty, forty, fifty-then I cast them off until I have just two or three. If only one is needed, I go see the director and ask him to decide. That happened one time with Jacques Demy for the duo of the twins [in Les demoiselles de Rochefort]: I went to his house in Noirmoutier to play 35 possible themes for him.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing his compositional process, 1970s
He selects a film’s core theme by intuitively finding melodies, then narrows them down through collaboration with directors.
In simple terms: Find the right melody to match a story.
Key Takeaway
Use intuition, then refine with feedback.
Themes
creativity
collaboration
intuition
Mood
thoughtful
creative
Type
inspirational
practical
When to use this quote
- film production
- songwriting
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
musical composition
film scoring
artistic process
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply intuitive selection in your work?
- When should you seek external input?
