The pedal is the soul of the piano.
Pianists call me a composer, composers call me a pianist. The classicists think me a futurist, and the futurists call me a reactionary.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the complexity of identity and how individuals are perceived differently by various groups.
Anton Rubinstein's quote highlights the multifaceted nature of identity in the arts, specifically in music. It shows how a person's work can be interpreted in contrasting ways depending on the perspective of the observer, indicating that labels such as 'composer' or 'pianist' may not capture the full essence of an artist's capabilities and contributions. The differing views of classicists and futurists further illustrate this point, emphasizing that artistic expression can transcend categorization.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the role of art in society, one could use this quote to illustrate the diverse interpretations of artists.
More from Anton Rubinstein
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I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door.
Compose with utter freedom and edit with utter discipline.
Analysis I take to be a scientific procedure. What I do is creative. It doesn't spring from the same part of the mind.
You want to make money, remake 'Cinderella.' You want to move people, remake the Hippolytus and Phaedra myth.
Why do people compose music? Why do people listen to music? When we go into a concert, we go into a place where we want to experience a sort of ecstasy, to come out of ourselves.
It's true the punk fashion itself was iconographic: rips and dirt, safety pins, zips, slogans, and hairstyles. These motifs were so iconic in themselves - motifs of rebellion.