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In some ways I believe music is the more convincing communicator of ideas than words. For instance, we can hear of Kordaly and Bartok and recognise them as Hungarian, but very few of us speak Hungarian, but the music itself speaks to more people.
Leonard Slatkin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Music can convey messages more effectively than words, reaching a broader audience.

In this quote, Leonard Slatkin emphasizes the power of music as a universal language that transcends barriers like language and culture. He points out that while many might know the names of Hungarian composers like Kordaly and Bartok, few actually speak Hungarian, highlighting that music itself has the ability to communicate emotions and ideas to people all over the world, regardless of their linguistic background.

Themes

MusicCommunicationUniversalIdeasArt

In practice

Example use cases

In a presentation about cultural diversity, this quote could illustrate how music connects people from different backgrounds.

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