“I was like a well trained pianist who knows which note to hit, but can't make the music his own.”

—  David Benioff, book City of Thieves

Source: City of Thieves

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I was like a well trained pianist who knows which note to hit, but can't make the music his own." by David Benioff?
David Benioff photo
David Benioff13
writer 1970

Related quotes

Burkard Schliessmann photo

“I myself represent the style of a Bach who was a human being with all his heights and depths, who knew life very well. My Bach is the experience of my playing the whole literature; and filling the different voices with their own life, vitality, vividness; it’s the independent speaking-until-singing of the different voices; and lastly it’s a balance between pianistic virtuosity and something chamber-music-like.”

Burkard Schliessmann classical pianist

Talkings on Bach

Artur Schnabel photo

“The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes – ah, that is where the art resides.”

Artur Schnabel (1882–1951) Austrian pianist

Quoted in the Chicago Daily News, June 11, 1958.

Larry the Cable Guy photo

“Then there's a feller who got hit by a train! How the - how the heck do y'get hit by a train! I mean it's not like it'll jump up and attack ya at the last minute or nothin'! There's, like, a railroad there to give ya, y'know, a heads up sign! I tell ya, if you ever gonna get hit by a train, do this: [steps to side] TA-DA! There ya go! Attaboy!”

Larry the Cable Guy (1963) American stand-up comedian, actor, country music artist, voice artist

Git-R-Done (album)

“Of the Russian pianists I like only one, Richter. Gilels did some things well, but I did not like his mannerisms, the way he moved around while he was playing.”

Emil Gilels (1916–1985) Soviet pianist

Vladimir Horowitz, quoted in Harold C. Schonberg, Horowitz: his life and music

Vladimir Horowitz photo

“Of the Russian pianists I like only one, Richter. Gilels did some things well, but I did not like his mannerisms, the way he moved around while he was playing.”

Vladimir Horowitz (1903–1989) American classical pianist and composer

quoted in Harold C. Schonberg, Horowitz: his life and music

“Prokofiev was especially active as a pianist during his years in the United States. The titles of numerous reviews seem to refer as much to his compositions as to his performances: “A titan of a pianist,” “Volcanic eruption at the keyboard,” “Russian chaos in music,” among others.”

Boris Berman (1948) Russian/American musician

Prokofiev’s piano sonatas : a guide for the listener and the performer (2008), Prokofiev the pianist

Cassandra Clare photo

“It was like I saw your soul in the notes of the music. And it was beautiful.”

Cassandra Clare (1973) American author

Source: The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess

Anthony de Mello photo

“The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius.”

Anthony de Mello (1931–1987) Indian writer

Awakening : Conversations with the Masters (2003), p. 24
Context: The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.

Joan Miró photo

“I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.”

Joan Miró (1893–1983) Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist

from: Joan Miro: Selected Writings and Interviews, M.Rowell, Thames and Hudson, 1987
1940 - 1960

Related topics