Edgard Varèse quotes

Edgard Varèse was a French-born composer, celebrated for his pioneering work in electronic and experimental music. His innovative approach emphasized the use of new technologies and unconventional sounds. He inspired generations of musicians and is often called the "father of electronic music." Here are 14 of his quotes:

Contrary to general belief, an artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs.

Edgard Varèse

I was not influenced by composers as much as by natural objects and physical phenomena.

Edgard Varèse

I don't want to write any more for the old Man-power instruments and am handicapped by the lack of adequate electrical instruments for which I now conceive my music.

Edgard Varèse

I dream of instruments obedient to my thought and which with their contribution of a whole new world of unsuspected sounds, will lend themselves to the exigencies of my inner rhythm.

Edgard Varèse

Music, which should pulsate with life, needs new means of expression, and science alone can infuse it with youthful vigor.

Edgard Varèse

Music is organized sound.

Edgard Varèse

There is an idea, the basis of an internal structure, expanded and split into different shapes or groups of sound constantly changing in shape, direction, and speed, attracted and repulsed by various forces.

Edgard Varèse

I have just begun a work in which an important part is given to a large chorus and with it I want to use several of your instruments - augmenting their range as in those I used for my Equatorial - especially in the high range.

Edgard Varèse

Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical.

Edgard Varèse

Possible musical forms are as limitless as the exterior forms of crystals.

Edgard Varèse

Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical. Music, which should pulsate with life, needs new means of expression, and science alone can infuse it with youthful vigor. Why, Italian Futurists, have you slavishly reproduced only what is commonplace and boring in the bustle of our daily lives. I dream of instruments obedient to my thought and which with their contribution of a whole new world of unsuspected sounds, will lend themselves to the exigencies of my inner rhythm.

Edgard Varèse

I was not influenced by composers as much as by natural objects and physical phenomena. As a child, I was tremendously impressed by the qualities and character of the granite I found in Burgundy, where I often visited my grandfather...So I was always in touch with things of stone and with this kind of pure structural architecture - without frills or unnecessary decoration. All of this became an integral part of my thinking at a very early stage.

Edgard Varèse