George Crumb quotes

George Crumb was an American composer renowned for his innovative and experimental approach to contemporary classical music. His works are characterized by unusual sounds, extended instrumental techniques, and evocative use of timbre. He inspired generations of musicians with his bold exploration of the boundaries of musical expression. Here are 25 of his quotes:

I am optimistic about the future of music. (George Crumb)
Perhaps two million years ago the creatures of a planet in some remote galaxy faced a musical crisis similar to that which we earthly composers face today. View quote
George Crumb
One very important aspect of our contemporary musical culture - some might say the supremely important aspect - is its extension in the historical and geographical senses to a degree unknown in the past. View quote
George Crumb
The retrospective glance is a relatively easy gesture for us to make. View quote
George Crumb
In a broader sense, the rhythms of nature, large and small - the sounds of wind and water, the sounds of birds and insects - must inevitably find their analogues in music. View quote
George Crumb
If we look at music history closely, it is not difficult to isolate certain elements of great potency which were to nourish the art of music for decades, if not centuries. View quote
George Crumb
Perhaps many of the perplexing problems of the new music could be put into a new light if we were to reintroduce the ancient idea of music being a reflection of nature. View quote
George Crumb
Although technical discussions are interesting to composers, I suspect that the truly magical and spiritual powers of music arise from deeper levels of our psyche. View quote
George Crumb
Perhaps of all the most basic elements of music, rhythm most directly affects our central nervous system. View quote
George Crumb
It is easy to write unthinking music. View quote
George Crumb
The future will be the child of the past and the present, even if a rebellious child. (George Crumb)
Nonetheless, I sense that it will be the task of the future to somehow synthesize the sheer diversity of our present resources into a more organic and well-ordered procedure. View quote
George Crumb
The advent of electronically synthesized sound after World War II has unquestionably had enormous influence on music in general. View quote
George Crumb
I frequently hear our present period described as uncertain, confused, chaotic. View quote
George Crumb
As interesting as that music can occasionally be, I don't think it really replaces the other. View quote
George Crumb
The development of new instrumental and vocal idioms has been one of the remarkable phenomena of recent music. View quote
George Crumb
Writing seems to be more difficult as you move through the years. View quote
George Crumb
Most of my influences are turn-of-the-century. View quote
George Crumb
This is not a happy time for this kind of music in this country. View quote
George Crumb
I have observed, too, that the people of the many countries that I have visited are showing an ever increasing interest in the classical and traditional music of their own cultures. View quote
George Crumb
I must confess, my Spanish is not so good - except I read a little, so I started with the English but then determined that it would have to be in Spanish. (George Crumb)
Unquestionably, our contemporary world of music is far richer, in a sense, than earlier periods, due to the historical and geographical extensions of culture to which I have referred. View quote
George Crumb
I pick up the New York Times or Time and it's talking about the latest rock group, which I'm sure is exciting to some people, but it neglects a huge area of music. View quote
George Crumb
I am certain that most composers today would consider today's music to be rich, not to say confusing, in its enormous diversity of styles, technical procedures, and systems of esthetics. View quote
George Crumb
I think we're in a very low point of music right now. View quote
George Crumb

George Crumb

George Crumb - Image
Photo: Peter Matthews from New York City, United States, CC BY 2.0
Occupation: American Composer
Born: October 24, 1929
Died: February 6, 2022
Quotes count: 25