---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music, first of all, is completely about…"
description: "\"Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way, it has been incredibly constructive to know ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg"
---

#  Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction…

![“Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way, it has been incredibly constructive to know what true abstraction is. So you dont fall into the trap of thinking that what you do is abstract.” quote by Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg)

> “Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way, it has been incredibly constructive to know what true abstraction is. So you dont fall into the trap of thinking that what you do is abstract.”

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Music is pure abstraction, unlike architecture; understanding true abstraction prevents mislabeling one’s work.

**In simple terms:** Music is abstract; architecture isn’t.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and respect true abstraction.

Themes

art architecture abstraction

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- creative process
- education
- design critique

Key Concepts

design theory philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does abstraction differ in music vs. architecture?
- What risks arise from mislabeling work?

A Different Perspective

Abstraction can be misunderstood across fields.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstraction/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [To say it another way, thinking, however abstract, originates in an embodied subjectivity, at once overdetermined and permeable to contingent events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-de-lauretis/to-say-it-another-way-thinking-however-abstract-originates-in-an/)

[Teresa de Lauretis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-de-lauretis/)

> [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/)

[Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/)

> [And I thought if I don't pre-interview - first of all, we couldn't afford it - but the second thing was it would force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/and-i-thought-if-i-don-t-pre-interview-first-of-all-we-couldn-t/)

[James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/)

> [I don't think I've ever felt terribly comfortable writing about my body. First of all, I think I took my body for granted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-kumin/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-felt-terribly-comfortable-writing-about-my/)

[Maxine Kumin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-kumin/)

> [And today more than ever, knowing about that society involves first of all choosing what approach the inquiry will take, and that necessarily means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-lyotard/and-today-more-than-ever-knowing-about-that-society-involves-first-of/)

[Jean-Francois Lyotard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-lyotard/)

> [Well first of all, I think the phrase 'jump the shark' has jumped the shark. I read it in every article and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/well-first-of-all-i-think-the-phrase-jump-the-shark-has-jumped-the/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [I don't really believe in elegance. Ever since I first came to France many years ago to do the Chambre Syndicale course, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-menkes/i-don-t-really-believe-in-elegance-ever-since-i-first-came-to-france/)

[Suzy Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-menkes/)

> [The studio is meant to be always a place where, first of all, they can be out of spotlight, and second, where they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/the-studio-is-meant-to-be-always-a-place-where-first-of-all-they-can/)

[James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/)

> [First of all, CIA follows the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/first-of-all-cia-follows-the-law/)

[Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/)

> ['L.A. Law' has been a bit of a blessing and a curse. First of all, it was a very prestigious show that had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/l-a-law-has-been-a-bit-of-a-blessing-and-a-curse-first-of-all-it-was/)

[Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/)

> [Since I am first of all a character writer, that character's emotions are as vivid to me as my own. I always begin with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/since-i-am-first-of-all-a-character-writer-that-character-s-emotions/)

[S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/)

> [I think, first of all, you know, Washington has a bad habit of a very short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-think-first-of-all-you-know-washington-has-a-bad-habit-of-a-very/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I was a musician first of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-was-a-musician-first-of-all/)

[Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/)

> [First of all, I think that is true, if you are a musician, particularly on the come, that you do have to end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sebastian/first-of-all-i-think-that-is-true-if-you-are-a-musician-particularly/)

[John Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sebastian/)

> [Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

## More by Rafael Vinoly

> [The most important thing about Jazz at Lincoln Center is the fact that it's the first time that perhaps the most important art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/the-most-important-thing-about-jazz-at-lincoln-center-is-the-fact/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [In the theater, everything is ephemeral. Everything is almost weightless and without a very clear definition of how you made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/in-the-theater-everything-is-ephemeral-everything-is-almost/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [I play only classical music. My pianos are my only big indulgence, but they're a necessity. When I'm playing the piano is literally the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/i-play-only-classical-music-my-pianos-are-my-only-big-indulgence-but/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [Im an expert on surfing the channels, so Im always able to find something strange. Or I watch C-Span. I can watch a conference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/im-an-expert-on-surfing-the-channels-so-im-always-able-to-find/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [There is no piece of music that could relate to anything else but itself and its world. It is truly an independent. The one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/there-is-no-piece-of-music-that-could-relate-to-anything-else-but/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [Architects feel empowered to give opinions about politics and sociology and philosophy without knowing much about it. Kind of in the same way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/architects-feel-empowered-to-give-opinions-about-politics-and/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [Buildings are forms of performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/buildings-are-forms-of-performances/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [I think architects tend to believe that they can almost do anything, which is a wonderful characteristic, but in some cases you just fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/i-think-architects-tend-to-believe-that-they-can-almost-do-anything/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [There are only two markets, ultraluxury and subsidized housing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/there-are-only-two-markets-ultraluxury-and-subsidized-housing/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

[Explore all 10 Rafael Vinoly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way, it has been incredibly constructive to know what true abstraction is. So you dont fall into the trap of thinking that what you do is abstract.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rafael Vinoly"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-abstraction-which-is-exactly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-abstraction-which-is-exactly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/rafael-vinoly-41134_about_music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-a_148907.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way…” — Rafael Vinoly",
                "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": "Rafael Vinoly",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Music, first of all, is completely...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-abstraction-which-is-exactly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-abstraction-which-is-exactly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
