David Amram Quotes

Powerful David Amram for Daily Growth

About David Amram

David Amram (born 1930), an American musician, composer, and writer, is a prolific and versatile artist who has left an indelible mark on various creative fields including jazz, classical music, folk, and film scoring. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Amram was raised by his grandparents due to the early death of both parents. This unconventional upbringing in a Jewish household immersed him in rich cultural experiences that would later influence his music. Amram's career began when he joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an entertainment specialist, playing French horn and trumpet in various military bands across Europe. This experience exposed him to diverse musical influences from around the world, shaping his unique compositional style. After leaving the army, Amram moved to New York City and quickly became part of the burgeoning Greenwich Village folk scene. He worked closely with influential figures like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Odetta, and Peter, Paul and Mary, contributing to a generation's defining cultural movement. As a composer, Amram has written over 100 orchestral works, ballets, film scores (including "Splendor in the Grass" and "The Manchurian Candidate"), and numerous jazz and folk recordings. His music draws from various traditions, seamlessly blending classical, folk, world, and improvised elements. As a writer, Amram has published several books on music, travel, philosophy, and spirituality. Throughout his long and illustrious career, David Amram's work has been celebrated for its boundless creativity, cultural inclusivity, and emotional depth. He remains an active performer, teacher, and advocate for the arts. A true renaissance man, David Amram continues to inspire and enrich our cultural landscape with his unique blend of talent, wisdom, and passion.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't believe in waiting for inspiration. I believe in working, doing, creating."

This quote by David Amram emphasizes the importance of active work and creation over passive waiting for inspiration to strike. It suggests that the process of doing and creating is more likely to inspire than simply waiting for it to happen. In other words, taking consistent action can ignite creativity and productivity, rather than relying solely on a sudden burst of inspiration.

"The only time you should look back is to see how far you have come."

This quote emphasizes self-reflection and progress, suggesting that looking back at one's past can serve as a means to appreciate growth and personal development. Instead of dwelling on mistakes or regrets, the focus should be on utilizing those experiences to fuel forward momentum. Essentially, it encourages an individual to keep moving forward, using the past as a reference point rather than a destination.

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club and a net."

This quote emphasizes the idea that one shouldn't just passively wait for inspiration or creativity to strike, but rather actively pursue it. It suggests that persistence, effort, and determination are necessary to capture or generate inspiration. In other words, creativity often demands action and proactivity, not just passive waiting.

"Music is the universal language of mankind."

The statement "Music is the universal language of mankind" by David Amram underscores the transcendent power of music to unite people across geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. It suggests that music, through its emotional, rhythmic, and melodic expressions, speaks to our shared human experiences and feelings. This quote highlights the profound role music plays in connecting us as a species, fostering empathy, understanding, and unity among diverse communities.

"To create, one must be willing to risk failure."

This quote emphasizes that creation requires a readiness to face potential failure. It suggests that the act of creating something new or original involves taking risks and venturing into uncharted territories, where success is not guaranteed. By acknowledging this possibility, creators can approach their work with courage, resilience, and determination, knowing that the journey itself – regardless of its outcome – will foster growth and development as an artist or thinker.

A few years later, my Uncle David took me to the Earle Theatre to hear Duke Ellington.

- David Amram

Uncle, Took, Duke Ellington, Duke

We met with the poet Frank O'Hara, who was a link between Upper and Lower Bohemia, and who worked at the Museum of Modern Art, where we had hoped to do the readings.

- David Amram

Art, Frank, Hoped, Bohemia

The Upper Bohemia people wore tuxedos in an art gallery, and Lower Bohemia was all of us.

- David Amram

Art, Upper, Lower, Bohemia

We had common interests in the beauty of the French language. We both had a tremendous love of jazz. We shared dreams of getting married and having a family, living in the country, leading an idyllic life.

- David Amram

Love, Country, Shared, French Language

When today's generation reads Jack's books or they listen to the music created by some of us, I believe that they see there is a different way of approaching today's life and today's sometimes seeming hopelessness that can provide answers.

- David Amram

Sometimes, Some, Approaching, Hopelessness

In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is doing, and then you play something that compliments that, so you are thinking simultaneously and thinking ahead.

- David Amram

Play, Doing, Compliments, Simultaneously

In symphonic music, when you are conducting, you do the same thing. You are feeling the whole orchestra, thinking ahead so you can prepare for a change.

- David Amram

Prepare, Ahead, Same Thing, Orchestra

The atmosphere was wide open in those circles that we traveled in.

- David Amram

Circles, Atmosphere, Wide, Traveled

Allen Ginsberg was a world authority on the writing of William Blake, and had an incredible knowledge of classic literature and world politics.

- David Amram

Politics, Incredible, Allen, Blake

Even before he had one book published, Jack was one of those people you could feel was very special.

- David Amram

Could, Before, Very, Jack

That is what I did with Jack, and that's why he liked to do the readings with me because he knew I was there for him, and for our ability to blend the poetry and the music.

- David Amram

Why, Blend, Knew, Jack

Franz Kline, who became known for his black and white paintings, did a whole series of gorgeous landscapes and wonderful portraits that may still hang in Greenwich Village.

- David Amram

Landscapes, Still, Became, Greenwich Village

The idea of the peace movement and of people who spent their entire lives trying to have a more egalitarian, just society, suddenly became swamped by the record industry, by the new rock and roll culture, and by the idea of not trusting anyone over thirty.

- David Amram

Rock And Roll, Idea, Became, Peace Movement

I learned from my uncle that jazz, like symphony music, was built to last.

- David Amram

Music, Last, Learned, Symphony

In a jazz atmosphere, the audience members were so quiet and respectful of the musicians that you felt you were almost part of a meeting at a church or a temple, where everyone was completely in tune with the sermon and what the whole event was about.

- David Amram

Jazz, Atmosphere, Almost, Respectful

Lawrence Ferlinghetti had a tremendous education as an artist and also an enormous knowledge of literarture.

- David Amram

Education, Artist, Had, Lawrence

Esquire, in a July, 1957 issue, has a photograph of me playing the French horn at the Five Spot.

- David Amram

Horn, Photograph, Issue, French

There are a lot of wonderful things created in our culture that have been ignored that can speak to them.

- David Amram

Ignored, Been, Lot, Wonderful Things

When you are accompanying someone, you are listening to them the way you listen to a Bach Chorale, where four parts are going on at the same time, all of which are gorgeous melodies, all being played simultaneously.

- David Amram

Listen, Melodies, Bach, Simultaneously

That by listening to some music, by reading some books, by looking at paintings, and most important by hanging out with one another - by collaborating with one another and creating your own network - you can achieve something that is much better than what is out there.

- David Amram

Listening, Achieve, Some, Hanging

That is the way a great master carpenter feels, or an architect or composer or anyone who creates anything - people want to be appreciated for what they have done.

- David Amram

Feels, Composer, Architect, Carpenter

I was part of it, and I am still part of it today in terms of what it means to a whole new generation of people who are interested in the enduring energy, achievements, spirit and creativity that exemplified our era.

- David Amram

Generation, New, Means, Enduring

I wish to share and pass down some of my generation's traits, and encourage young people to create their own art, music, and literature.

- David Amram

Art, Generation, Some, Encourage

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.