--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I compose music because I must give…" description: "\"I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts.\" — Sergei Rachmaninoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg" --- # I compose music because I must give expression to my… ![“I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts.” quote by Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg) > “I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts.” [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music expresses feelings as speech expresses thoughts; both are essential outlets. **In simple terms:** Music is emotional expression, like speaking is thought expression. Key Takeaway Create music to convey inner emotions. Themes music expression creativity Mood reflective artistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - composition - performance - therapy Key Concepts artistic theory emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you channel emotions into art? - What outlets work for you? A Different Perspective Not everyone can translate feelings into music. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Everywhere that a great soul gives utterance to its thoughts, there also is a Golgotha.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/everywhere-that-a-great-soul-gives-utterance-to-its-thoughts-there/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [To be an artist, you don't have to compose music or paint or be in the movies or write books. It's just a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/to-be-an-artist-you-don-t-have-to-compose-music-or-paint-or-be-in-the/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I like to compose, but only for myself. I write my own lyrics and compose the music around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arijit-singh/i-like-to-compose-but-only-for-myself-i-write-my-own-lyrics-and/) [Arijit Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arijit-singh/) > [I would enjoy venturing into music, as I do write songs and compose music! And, of course, dance, rhythm and performance are in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-would-enjoy-venturing-into-music-as-i-do-write-songs-and-compose/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I always recommend to any player to always compose their own music. It's one of the best things you can do to find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ritenour/i-always-recommend-to-any-player-to-always-compose-their-own-music-it/) [Lee Ritenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ritenour/) > [I compose music for films, and by the grace of God, I've got a few awards. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-compose-music-for-films-and-by-the-grace-of-god-i-ve-got-a-few/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [I've always envied people who compose music or paint, because they don't have to be bothered with the sort of crude mess that language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-ve-always-envied-people-who-compose-music-or-paint-because-they-don/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [Usually I go to the studio to write lyrics and compose music. I try to be a dad as much as possible at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyavi/usually-i-go-to-the-studio-to-write-lyrics-and-compose-music-i-try-to/) [Miyavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyavi/) > [I don't think that because l'm a composer I only have to compose music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hisaishi/i-don-t-think-that-because-l-m-a-composer-i-only-have-to-compose-music/) [Joe Hisaishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hisaishi/) > [I compose the music according to the nature of the show. 'Peter Gunn's' focus was violence so that was my key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-compose-the-music-according-to-the-nature-of-the-show-peter-gunn-s/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I've been a full-time composer for many years, and I'm still learning all the time. There is always more than one musical "solution" to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keltonic/i-ve-been-a-full-time-composer-for-many-years-and-i-m-still-learning/) [John Keltonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keltonic/) > [“Writing is the skillful expression of feelings through the vehicle of words”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-michael/writing-is-the-skillful-expression-of-feelings-through-the-vehicle-of/) [Christian Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-michael/) > [Writing is an art, just like any other creative exercise - painting a picture, singing a song or dancing. It is an expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/writing-is-an-art-just-like-any-other-creative-exercise-painting-a/) [Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/) > [I think that music, being an expression of the human heart, or of the human being itself, does express just what is happening -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-think-that-music-being-an-expression-of-the-human-heart-or-of-the/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Music is an expression of what's inside of you. And that's how I make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-marley/music-is-an-expression-of-what-s-inside-of-you-and-that-s-how-i-make/) [Damian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-marley/) ## More by Sergei Rachmaninoff > [Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/rhapsody-on-a-theme-of-paganini/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [The virtuosos look to the students of the world to do their share in the education of the great musical public. Do not waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/the-virtuosos-look-to-the-students-of-the-world-to-do-their-share-in/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [My dear hands. Farewell, my poor hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/my-dear-hands-farewell-my-poor-hands/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [What is Music? How do you define it? Music is a calm moonlit night, the rustle of leaves in Summer. Music is the far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/what-is-music-how-do-you-define-it-music-is-a-calm-moonlit-night-the/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [I feel like a ghost wandering in a world grown alien. I cannot cast out the old way of writing and I cannot acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/i-feel-like-a-ghost-wandering-in-a-world-grown-alien-i-cannot-cast/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [The most efficient way to memorise a piece is to use the one which proceeds in an error free manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/the-most-efficient-way-to-memorise-a-piece-is-to-use-the-one-which/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [A good conductor ought to be a good chauffeur; the qualities that make the one also make the other. They are concentration, an incessant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/a-good-conductor-ought-to-be-a-good-chauffeur-the-qualities-that-make/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [The new kind of music seems to create not from the heart but from the head. Its composers think rather than feel. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/the-new-kind-of-music-seems-to-create-not-from-the-heart-but-from-the/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [Opinion in all parts of the world would agree that Rachmaninoff is the most complete of living masters of the instrument; his technique is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/opinion-in-all-parts-of-the-world-would-agree-that-rachmaninoff-is/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) [Explore all 10 Sergei Rachmaninoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) ## More Compose quotes > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Every song that I compose has to satisfy the music director in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopi-sundar/every-song-that-i-compose-has-to-satisfy-the-music-director-in-me/) [Gopi Sundar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopi-sundar/) > [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/) Steve Swallow > [Even in front of nature one must compose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/even-in-front-of-nature-one-must-compose/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [One of the challenges is creating characters. I am trying to compose my sentences to express epic events happening to ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/one-of-the-challenges-is-creating-characters-i-am-trying-to-compose/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he-can-t-compose-because-he/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I got to compose for a full symphony orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-got-to-compose-for-a-full-symphony-orchestra/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [To compose is to remember music that has never been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/to-compose-is-to-remember-music-that-has-never-been-written/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [If I pick up a fiddle, I don't compose on it, so much as I just play whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-amidon/if-i-pick-up-a-fiddle-i-don-t-compose-on-it-so-much-as-i-just-play/) [Sam Amidon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-amidon/) > [I've been a full-time composer for many years, and I'm still learning all the time. There is always more than one musical "solution" to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keltonic/i-ve-been-a-full-time-composer-for-many-years-and-i-m-still-learning/) [John Keltonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keltonic/) > [Works of art inspire me to compose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/works-of-art-inspire-me-to-compose/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [I am not just a singer, I am a composer as well. Because I'm balancing both, it takes me longer to compose a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/i-am-not-just-a-singer-i-am-a-composer-as-well-because-i-m-balancing/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [I am talented enough to compose internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/i-am-talented-enough-to-compose-internationally/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [Only when I experience do I compose - only when I compose do I experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-mahler/only-when-i-experience-do-i-compose-only-when-i-compose-do-i/) [Gustav Mahler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-mahler/) > [“we compose our life in stories we tell ourselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/we-compose-our-life-in-stories-we-tell-ourselves/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) Browse all 103 Compose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sergei Rachmaninoff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expression-to-my-feelings-just-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expression-to-my-feelings-just-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/sergei-rachmaninoff-40802_compose_i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expr_2813844.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance…” — Sergei Rachmaninoff", "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": "Sergei Rachmaninoff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I compose music because I must...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expression-to-my-feelings-just-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/i-compose-music-because-i-must-give-expression-to-my-feelings-just-as/#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 } } ] } ```