To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.
Robert SchumannRead
It was an unforgettable picture to see Chopin sitting at the piano like a clairvoyant, lost in his dreams; to see how his vision communicated itself through his playing, and how, at the end of each piece, he had the sad habit of running one finger over the length of the plaintive keyboard, as though to tear himself forcibly away from his dream.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the profound emotional connection that Chopin had with his music, highlighting the deep interplay between his dreams and his performance.
Robert Schumann describes a powerful moment of observing the composer Frédéric Chopin at the piano, underscoring the idea that music transcends mere performance and taps into a shared human experience. Schumann conveys the struggle Chopin faced to return to reality after being immersed in the emotional and imaginative world of his music, suggesting that true artistry involves a deep, sometimes painful engagement with one's inner visions and feelings.
Themes
ChopinMusicArtistryEmotionPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a presentation about the emotional power of music.
More from Robert Schumann
All quotes →I am so fresh in soul and spirit that life gushes and bubbles around me in a thousand springs.
Robert SchumannRead
Think it a vile habit to alter works of good composers, to omit parts of them, or to insert new-fashioned ornaments. This is the greatest insult you can offer to Art.
Robert SchumannRead
You write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or you've looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.
Robert SchumannRead
Endeavour to play easy pieces well and with elegance; that is better than to play difficult pieces badly.
Robert SchumannRead
For me, music is always the language which permits one to converse with the Beyond.
Robert SchumannRead
Similar quotes
When we come to understand architecture as the essential nature of all harmonious structure we will see that it is the architecture of music that inspired Bach and Beethoven, the architecture of painting that is inspiring Picasso as it inspired Velasquez, that it is the architecture of life itself that is the inspiration of the great poets and philosophers.
Frank Lloyd WrightRead
Since the printing press came into being, poetry has ceased to be the delight of the whole community of man; it has become the amusement and delight of the few.
John MasefieldRead
The important question has nothing to do with whether the talk in your story is sacred or profane; the only question is how it rings on the page and in your ear. If you expect it to ring true, then you must talk yourself. Even more important, you must shut up and listen to others talk.
Stephen KingRead
Just as music is noise that makes sense, a painting is colour that makes sense, so a story is life that makes sense.
Yann MartelRead
My own physicality, not an abstract idea, makes me a choreographer.
Twyla TharpRead
Usually, comedy shows only influence other comedy shows. 'M*A*S*H' is one of the few comedies that influenced dramatic shows as well.
Alan AldaRead