"I'm not interested in possible complexities. I regard song structure as a graph paper"
About this Quote
Brian Eno is renowned for his innovative method to music and sound. In this quote, he reveals a distinctive point of view on songwriting and structure. When he states, "I'm not interested in possible complexities", Eno is likely highlighting his preference for simplicity and clearness over complex and possibly convoluted tune structures. This stance may appear counterproductive given that Eno is often related to speculative and progressive music, but it underscores an essential element of his creative approach: intricacy can often obscure the core essence and emotional resonance of a piece.
Eno's reference to tune structure as "graph paper" uses further insight into his innovative state of mind. Chart paper is defined by its consistency and structure, providing a constant framework within which one can work. By comparing song structure to graph paper, Eno recommends that he views the structure of a tune as a tool to organize musical ideas succinctly and coherently. This analogy indicates that while the structure is very important, it serves mainly as a structure for imagination rather than being an end in itself. It permits the artist to draw up concepts plainly, concentrating on the content-- melody, harmony, texture-- rather than getting lost in excessively complicated structural embellishments.
In focusing on attaining artistic clearness and focusing on the auditory experience, he invites listeners and developers alike to value the significance and power of straightforward, yet compelling structures. Eno stresses that imagination doesn't always require intricacy to be extensive or impactful. Instead, true innovation can live in how one manipulates easy components to produce something remarkable and emotionally resonant. Therefore, Eno's quote uses an informative reflection on the art of balance in music structure: valuing structure as a way to funnel imagination while preventing the mistakes of unnecessary complexity.
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