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Contrary to general belief, an artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs. I was the first composer to explore, so to speak, musical outer space.

— Edgard Varèse Gramophone (1962)

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More quotes by Edgard Varèse

Our musical alphabet is poor and illogical. Music, which should pulsate with life, needs new means of expression, and science alone can infuse it with youthful vigor.

Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes.

Possible musical forms are as limitless as the exterior forms of crystals.

Aspects of 20th Century Music (1975)

I was not influenced by composers as much as by natural objects and physical phenomena.

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. The form of the work is a consequence of this interaction. Possible musical forms are as limitless as the exterior forms of crystals.

Aspects of 20th Century Music (1975)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Edgard Varèse (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.