"There is an idea, the basis of an internal structure, expanded and split into different shapes or groups of sound constantly changing in shape, direction, and speed, attracted and repulsed by various forces"

Edgard Varèse’s words evoke a vivid conceptualization of music as a living, dynamic entity formed from an original germinal idea. The “idea” serves as the nucleus, containing within it the potential for limitless transformation. This core concept does not remain static, but instead generates an “internal structure,” suggesting that music is organized, not arbitrarily assembled, governed by its own internal logic.

As the idea expands, it “splits into different shapes or groups of sound,” drawing attention to Varèse’s focus on timbre, what he famously called “organized sound.” The notion of expansion and splitting indicates that musical material can evolve in unpredictable, organic ways, branching into novel sonic territories. These “shapes” and “groups of sound” are not fixed; they morph and flow, underscoring Varèse’s penchant for fluidity and change rather than rigid formal constraints.

Change is constant, manifested in “shape, direction, and speed”, emphasizing process over product. The trajectory of the musical material is subject to continual transformation, refusing to settle into a single identity. Speed and direction point towards motion, both literal (tempo, rhythm) and metaphorical (development, evolution of ideas).

Varèse also introduces the imagery of “forces” that attract and repulse the musical material. This is reminiscent of scientific principles, such as magnetic or gravitational fields, which aligns with Varèse’s well-known fascination with science and technology. The musical ideas are not isolated; they exist within an energetic field, subject to “forces” that could represent dynamics, contrasting timbres, harmonic tension, spatial distribution, or emotional content.

Overall, Varèse’s vision is of music as a constantly changing, quasi-physical entity governed by its own natural laws. It moves beyond traditional melodic or harmonic thinking, embracing a universe where sound is shaped, propelled, and ultimately made alive by a balance of structure, transformation, and the interplay of creative forces.