Elliott Carter Quotes

Powerful Elliott Carter for Daily Growth

About Elliott Carter

Elliott Carter (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American composer, renowned as one of the major figures in contemporary classical music during the second half of the 20th century. Born in Cornwall, Connecticut, he showed early musical talent, learning to play the violin by age eight and composing his first piece at eleven. Influenced by Igor Stravinsky's neoclassical works and Paul Hindemith's teaching, Carter's style evolved from a neoclassical phase through serialism into a highly individual, complex, and richly textured modernism. After studying at the New England Conservatory of Music and with composers Nicolas Slonimsky and Wallingford Riegger, Carter served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Post-war, he moved to Paris, where he was a student of Olivier Messiaen. He returned to America in 1958 and taught at various universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and the University of California, San Diego. Carter's major works span orchestral, chamber, vocal, and solo compositions. Notable pieces include the orchestral work "A Symphony of Three Orchestras" (1960), the opera "What Wildness is This!" (1976), and the Clarinet Concerto (1985-87). His music is characterized by its intricate counterpoint, polyrhythms, and unpredictable melodies. Despite his late start in professional composition—his first orchestral piece was not performed until he was 46 years old—Carter's career spanned more than six decades. He continued composing into his nineties and received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music twice (for "Epigrams" in 1990 and "Symphony of Three Orchestras" in 1960) and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008. Carter's music remains a significant influence on contemporary composition, characterized by its intellectual complexity, emotional depth, and innovative spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think that music is not a reflection of life but a strong interpretation of it."

Elliott Carter's quote suggests that music does not merely mirror or represent life as it is, but rather offers a profound, subjective interpretation of it. This interpretation can be influenced by an artist's unique perspective, emotions, and experiences. In essence, the music serves as a lens through which we can view and understand life in novel and personal ways.

"Music is the shorthand of emotion."

Elliott Carter's quote "Music is the shorthand of emotion" implies that music is a compact, efficient way to express complex feelings and sentiments. It suggests that through musical notes, rhythms, and harmonies, composers can convey deep emotions in a brief and succinct manner, making it easier for listeners to connect with or understand those emotions. Music, much like a shorthand, provides a condensed language for emotional expression.

"When you're young, you write what you know. When you get older, you write what you imagine."

This quote suggests that as artists mature, they shift their focus from personal experiences (what they know) to exploring the unknown realms of imagination. In youth, creativity often stems from direct life encounters, but with age comes wisdom and a desire to delve into the abstract, creating art that transcends personal boundaries and taps into universal truths or fantasies. This evolution reflects an artist's growth and expanding perspective on life and its possibilities.

"Composers have this curious desire to be original and yet sound like everybody else."

Elliott Carter's quote suggests a paradoxical challenge faced by composers when creating new music: they strive for originality, but often end up sounding similar to others due to shared influences, traditions, and the nature of musical evolution itself. This observation highlights both the creative tension and the inherent interconnectedness in the world of music composition.

"I try to keep the past in the present and the future in the present, so that all of it is now."

Elliott Carter's quote emphasizes the importance of balancing the influences from the past and visions for the future, both within the context of his compositions and perhaps life in general. By keeping these elements "in the present," he suggests a harmonious synthesis where the wisdom of yesterday informs today, while the aspirations for tomorrow ignite creative energy in the here and now. This mindset encourages a dynamic approach to life, art, and learning, acknowledging that we constantly evolve as we integrate past experiences with our ongoing journey towards the future.

Well I tried to, but I could never write anything that I liked or was worthwhile. I threw it all out and realized that I had to make a serious study- that my tastes were far more advanced than my abilities.

- Elliott Carter

Study, Had, Advanced, Tastes

The Third Quartet I made the instruments in pairs - Two different pairs - Violin and viola, and violin and cello. They played very different things from each other all through the whole piece.

- Elliott Carter

Violin, Through, Very, Viola

Almost every one of my various zero numbered birthdays has had a big concert in London and often in Paris.

- Elliott Carter

London, Big, Almost, Numbered

Why write for the orchestra? For one thing it's a very challenging problem.

- Elliott Carter

Problem, Very, One Thing, Orchestra

Yes, I get a report from BMI about the frequency of performances, and it is very surprising. They played one of my most advanced pieces, and one of my most unusual ones on the radio.

- Elliott Carter

Yes, Very, Advanced, Report

Well when I was young, when I was very young, when I was a little boy I don't remember the music I heard, but there was an article in the Brooklyn Daily written by my Aunt about how I could choose phonograph records.

- Elliott Carter

Young, Records, Very, Article

When I was in Paris, all of the German refugees began to flow in and it was a very sad time.

- Elliott Carter

Paris, Very, German, Flow

I've known those pieces ever since I was about 16 or 17; I also at that time was taken to meet Charles Ives whom I got to know fairly well. He was the one who wrote a recommendation for me to get into college.

- Elliott Carter

College, About, Charles, Recommendation

That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. We had to write choral pieces in the style of Brahms or Mendelssohn, which was distressing because in the end you realized how good Brahms is, and how bad you are.

- Elliott Carter

Big, Bad, Had, Harvard

In any case, Ives encouraged me to go into music even though he himself had such a hard time being a composer.

- Elliott Carter

Go, Composer, Though, Case

Silences between movements are employed only in order to bring the opposing duo to the fore.

- Elliott Carter

Only, Opposing, Silences, Order

Right at the end of the war I wrote a piano sonata, which was written at a time when Sam Barber used to come down here and we used to have lunch together in a very nice old hotel that's now not there.

- Elliott Carter

Lunch, Here, Very, Sonata

These wealthy people were very interested in contemporary music. They wanted to help diffuse it and get it to be known to other people.

- Elliott Carter

Other, Wealthy, Very, Diffuse

Aaron Copland was a man that had a very specific point of view about what music should be which was that, he felt that new music should have the composer should show a personality in his music.

- Elliott Carter

New, Very, Which, New Music

Since I'm allergic to various things, the army wouldn't accept me during the war, and I got into the Office of War Information, which sent music to Europe.

- Elliott Carter

War, Office, Which, Allergic

Then, when the Depression came, all of this changed completely. Since that time, the entire public is of a very different sort and there was not so much support for contemporary music in a direct way.

- Elliott Carter

Very, Direct Way, Direct, Contemporary Music

I mean the public likes it more in Europe than they do here because the state supported organizations have felt that playing contemporary music was part of the education of the public.

- Elliott Carter

Education, More, Here, Contemporary Music

My entire life has really revolved around music that was written about the time that I was born, 1908, to just before the First World War and shortly after it. This music I've always known, and it is that music that's most important to me.

- Elliott Carter

Before, About, World War, First World War

Talking about a materialistic thing, I get about 13 times more royalties from Europe than I do from America.

- Elliott Carter

More, Talking, About, Royalties

An auditory scenario for the players to act out with their instruments.

- Elliott Carter

Act, Players, Scenario, Instruments

The Quartets have been a major part of my work.

- Elliott Carter

Work, Been, Major, Major Part

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.