QuoteProject
The major rock instruments and classical instruments were designed for performance, for sharing the music with an audience, and then later people put microphones on them and recorded them. But for electronic music, the opposite was true - they're designed in laboratories, and later, we tried to put them on stage.
Jean Michel Jarre
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the contrasting origins of traditional and electronic music instruments.

Jean Michel Jarre points out the fundamental difference in the design and purpose between classical or rock instruments and electronic music instruments. Traditional instruments were created for live performances and audience engagement, while electronic instruments were initially developed in controlled environments and laboratories, with performance adaptation being a later consideration. This shift illustrates the evolving nature of music creation and presentation.

Themes

MusicInstrumentsPerformanceElectronicClassical

In practice

Example use cases

During a workshop on music production, I shared this quote to illustrate the evolution of music creation.

More from Jean Michel Jarre

I consider music like a mirage in the desert. You're obsessed with the ideal piece of music, and the more you think you're getting closer, it's not there.
Jean Michel JarreRead
With electronic music, you are not confined to the acoustics of a concert-hall, and that inspired me to bring my performances outdoors.
Jean Michel JarreRead
For me, electronic music is like cooking: it's a sensual organic activity where you can mix ingredients.
Jean Michel JarreRead
I thought we had opposite visions of electronic music. Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk had a very robotic, mechanical approach. I had a more impressionist vision - a Ravel/Debussy approach.
Jean Michel JarreRead
Saying that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say.
Jean Michel JarreRead
If music is to continue to support the livelihoods of artists, it cannot be taken without the permission of artists.
Jean Michel JarreRead

Similar quotes

I write songs. Then I record them. And later, maybe I perform them on stage. That's what I do. That's my job. Simple. I don't feel comfortable doing interviews. My profession is music, and writing songs. I like to do it, but I hate to talk about it...Music is spiritual. The music business is not. Being famous was extremely disappointing for me. When I became famous it was a complete drag and it is still a complete drag.
Van MorrisonRead
Blacks own so little of the music business, it's pathetic. But I see that changing soon. Black artists, black businessmen and women will unite.
Barry WhiteRead
I wrote my first song at 12 and remember someone asking, 'What were you going through at 12 that you could write about?' I get what you're saying, but 11, 12, 13 were the hardest years of my life. You learn everything. You learn how horrible things feel.
Billie EilishRead
Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in a way that other people can't.
Jay-ZRead
Since I was two years old, all I knew was gospel music. That music became such a part of my life it was as natural as dancing. A way to escape from the problems. And my way of release.
Elvis PresleyRead
If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.
Louis ArmstrongRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.