We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life.
Ornette ColemanRead
You've got to realize. In the western world, regardless of what color you are, what title the music is, it's all played by the same notes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Music transcends race and genre, fundamentally sharing the same elements.
Ornette Coleman's quote emphasizes the universality of music, suggesting that irrespective of racial or cultural differences, all musicians operate using the same foundational components of musicβnotes. This highlights how music can unify diverse backgrounds, inviting a recognition of shared humanity through the art form.
Themes
MusicUniversalNotesEqualityCulture
In practice
Example use cases
During a conversation about the power of music in bringing people together, I quoted Ornette Coleman to highlight its unity.
More from Ornette Coleman
All quotes βYou don't have to worry about being a number one, number two, or number three. Numbers don't have anything to do with placement. Numbers only have something to do with repetition.
Ornette ColemanRead
So, for instance, if you came to me, I'd ask, 'Do you want to write? Do you want to improvise? Why do you want to play this instrument? What do you want to do?'
Ornette ColemanRead
That's what I was trying to say when we were talking about sound. I think that every person, whether they play music or don't play music, has a sound - their own sound, that thing that you're talking about.
Ornette ColemanRead
It's just someone has labelled us as having a different label to do what you do. I find that labels are the worst thing in the world for artistic expression.
Ornette ColemanRead
I decided, if I'm going to be poor and black and all, the least thing I'm going to do is to try and find out who I am. I created everything about me.
Ornette ColemanRead
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Herbie HancockRead