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Composing a concert is like composing a menu.... If you start with light pieces and play a 45-minute sonata after the interlude, it's like starting dinner with hors d'oeuvres and dessert and finishing with a Châteaubriand and vegetables.
Arthur Rubinstein
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote compares the structure of a concert to the arrangement of a meal, emphasizing the importance of flow and pacing.

Arthur Rubinstein's quote draws a parallel between the art of composing a concert and crafting a well-structured menu. Just as a great meal progresses from light appetizers to heavier main courses, a concert should be thoughtfully organized, leading the audience through an emotional journey that maintains interest and enjoyment. The analogy suggests that both music and dining require a careful consideration of pacing to create a satisfying experience.

Themes

ConcertCompositionMenuStructurePacingArt

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a music class to illustrate the importance of structure in compositions.

More from Arthur Rubinstein

Of course there is no formula for success, except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life, and what it brings
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Sometimes when I sit down to practice and there is no one else in the room, I have to stifle an impulse to ring for the elevator man and offer him money to come in and hear me.
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To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings - it's all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life miracle to miracle.
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At every concert I leave a lot to the moment. I must have the unexpected, the unforeseen. I want to risk, to dare. I want to be surprised by what comes out. I want to enjoy it more than the audience. That way the music can bloom anew. It's like making love. The act is always the same, but each time it's different.
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I'm a free person; I feel terribly free. They could put me in chains and I still would be free because my thoughts would be mine - and that's all I want to have.
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To be alive, to able to see, to walk...it's all a miracle. I have adapted the technique of living life from miracle to miracle.
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