--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like all great works, it manages to be…" description: "\"“Like all great works, it manages to be great without trying to be brilliant. It just is, and effortlessly so. . . . [Has a] rhythm that's sophisticate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg" --- # Like all great works, it manages to be great without… ![“Like all great works, it manages to be great without trying to be brilliant. It just is, and effortlessly so. . . . [Has a] rhythm that's sophisticated in its subdivisions of time and its impeccable sense of proportion and pace. —James Guymon Film Composer VP, Composers Guild of America” quote by Milo Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg) > ““Like all great works, it manages to be great without trying to be brilliant. It just is, and effortlessly so. . . . \[Has a\] rhythm that's sophisticated in its subdivisions of time and its impeccable sense of proportion and pace. —James Guymon Film Composer VP, Composers Guild of America”” [Milo Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-behr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A composition can be great without trying to be brilliant; its natural rhythm and proportion make it effortless. **In simple terms:** Great works can be effortless through natural rhythm. Key Takeaway Value natural flow in creation. Themes art music effortlessness rhythm proportion Mood appreciative analytical Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - film scoring - creative process - musical analysis Key Concepts composition subtlety timing Questions to Reflect On - What makes a piece feel effortless? - How does rhythm affect perception of brilliance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Effortlessly Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effortlessly-rhythm-5319537/) [Film Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-composer-733903/) [Rhythm Sophisticated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-sophisticated-5319538/) [Time Impeccable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-impeccable-5319539/) ## Related quotes > [I really liked doing a number of the projects and directors, and etc., etc., I knew about half-way through that I would never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/i-really-liked-doing-a-number-of-the-projects-and-directors-and-etc/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [If you're a film composer, you have the music tell the story of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/if-you-re-a-film-composer-you-have-the-music-tell-the-story-of-the/) [Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/) > [As a film composer, you have to be a good collaborator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/as-a-film-composer-you-have-to-be-a-good-collaborator/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [I listen to Morricone, the famed Italian film composer, while I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-listen-to-morricone-the-famed-italian-film-composer-while-i-m/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I wanted to be a film composer because I heard scores that could stand alone, from 'Vertigo' to 'Star Wars' to 'La Dolce Vita,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-wanted-to-be-a-film-composer-because-i-heard-scores-that-could/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [One important thing, just being a film composer in general, is to have a great respect for the art that you're working on -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-trapanese/one-important-thing-just-being-a-film-composer-in-general-is-to-have/) [Joseph Trapanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-trapanese/) > [I'd say for a film composer, 'Star Wars' is kind of like the holy grail of film music. It's probably the best film music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/i-d-say-for-a-film-composer-star-wars-is-kind-of-like-the-holy-grail/) [Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/) > [I'm a film composer, but I'm a hip-hop guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/i-m-a-film-composer-but-i-m-a-hip-hop-guy/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [My education as a film composer, you can't not - if you like the orchestra like I do, if you are a symphonist like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/my-education-as-a-film-composer-you-can-t-not-if-you-like-the/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [I would love to do more superhero work; as a young film composer, that is one of the things you dream of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/i-would-love-to-do-more-superhero-work-as-a-young-film-composer-that/) [Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/) > [I'm not a script composer. I'm a film composer and my brain is excited by images and moving elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-m-not-a-script-composer-i-m-a-film-composer-and-my-brain-is-excited/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [Howard Shore, who's an amazing film composer, told me once that it's 10 percent inspiration, 90 percent perspiration. So I think even within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-luke/howard-shore-who-s-an-amazing-film-composer-told-me-once-that-it-s-10/) [Dr. Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-luke/) > [John Barry was the first film composer I was aware of. As a teenager I owned several of his Bond soundtracks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/john-barry-was-the-first-film-composer-i-was-aware-of-as-a-teenager-i/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [I always wanted to be a film composer. So very early on I started collecting soundtracks and paying attention to how movie music works.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-film-composer-so-very-early-on-i-started/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [I remember when I saw 'King's Speech' or 'Girl With the Pearl Earring;' there are moments in my life where I was blown away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-remember-when-i-saw-king-s-speech-or-girl-with-the-pearl-earring/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) ## More by Milo Behr > [“The genius is apparent from page one. . . . A seamless fusion of virtuosity and insight. . . . If William Wordsworth were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-behr/the-genius-is-apparent-from-page-one-a-seamless-fusion-of-virtuosity/) [Milo Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-behr/) [Explore all 2 Milo Behr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-behr/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Like all great works, it manages to be great without trying to be brilliant. It just is, and effortlessly so. . . . [Has a] rhythm that's sophisticated in its subdivisions of time and its impeccable sense of proportion and pace. —James Guymon Film Composer VP, Composers Guild of America”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milo Behr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-behr/like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-great-without-trying-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Composer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-behr/like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-great-without-trying-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/milo-behr-93832_composer_like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-gr_2280399.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like all great works, it manages to be great without trying to be brilliant. It just is, and effortlessly…” — Milo Behr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Milo Behr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-behr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Like all great works, it manages...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-behr/like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-great-without-trying-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-behr/like-all-great-works-it-manages-to-be-great-without-trying-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```