I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at the same time it’s really useless.
Ai WeiweiRead
I used to think there was something dirty about being paid for something which is a sacred thing to do. I can't disconnect the act of writing music from the act of prayer. If anyone tries to stop me working, it feels like someone is trying to stop me from taking communion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the deep connection between the act of creating music and a sacred, spiritual experience.
John Tavener articulates his belief that music composition is not merely a profession, but a sacred act akin to prayer or communion. He suggests that the act of creating music holds profound spiritual significance for him, making it difficult to view this artistic endeavor as something to be commodified or separated from its spiritual essence.
Themes
MusicSpiritualityCreationArtSacred
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of art in education, one might use this quote to emphasize the sacred nature of creative expression.
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