Jascha Heifetz quote

"I occasionally play works by contemporary composers and for two reasons: First, to discourage the composer from writing any more and, secondly, to remind myself how much I appreciate Beethoven." - Jascha Heifetz, violinist  

I'm pretty sure Heifetz said this half-jestingly. The serious half is what bothers me, although I might have said this myself.  

Words and Music

Music is not a thing. It is physical because it is captured by one of our senses, but it is not something you can reach out and touch. Perhaps it is like the wind, it is there and you can feel it but you cannot see it. It is another type of language, but one which everyone can understand. A very special means of communication. Words can never tell you what a piece of music sounds like - never. If I say that a piece is powerful, rhythmic, expressive, energetic, forceful, explosive, inpired, has perfect form and logic, soulful, sexy, emotional, touching, gentle, suave, exquisite, etc., have I made you hear the piece by means of words? Those terms can be applied to thousands of different pieces of music. However, I might be able to use words to tell you that a piece of music fails to communicate anything worth listening to more than once or that it's a great piece of music - to critique it, that is. But I can go no further. We are priviledged to have it at our disposal.

Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) was an Austrian violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor, born on January 27, 1756. Being tremendously gifted and industrious, he composed over six hundred works in his short lifetime – concertos for solo instruments (about 40), symphonies (about 40), sonatas (about 70), string quartets (about 20), operas (about 10), choral music, songs, and other assorted pieces. He is considered by many to be the greatest composer of classical music who ever lived. Mozart’s music can be light and graceful, charming and humorous, sad and dark, and profound and passionate. The famous composer Joseph Haydn wrote about Mozart that "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years.” He could easily have said “500 years.” Mozart died in 1791, at age 35.