Artur Schnabel Quotes

• The sonatas of Mozart are unique; they are too easy for children, and too difficult for artists.

  Artur Schnabel

  Children, Artist, Unique

  Quoted in Nat Shapiro, An Encyclopedia of Quotations About Music (1978)

  75 Copy quote

• I know two kinds of audiences only--one coughing, and one not coughing.

  Artur Schnabel

  Two, Kind, Coughing

  'My Life and Music' (1961) pt. 2, ch. 10

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

  Artur Schnabel

  Funny, Music, Art

  Quoted in Chicago Daily News, 11 June 1958

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• Sunshine can burn you, food can poison you, words can condemn you, pictures can insult you; music cannot punish - only bless.

  Artur Schnabel

  Sunshine, Insults You, Poison

  Artur Schnabel (1942). “Music and the line of most resistance”, Da Capo Pr

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• I always make sure that the lid over the keyboard is open before I start to play.

  Artur Schnabel

  Music, Play, Piano

  40 Copy quote

• I am attracted only to music which I consider to be better than it can be performed. Therefore I feel (rightly or wrongly) that unless a piece of music presents a problem to me, a never-ending problem, it doesn't interest me too much.

  Artur Schnabel

  Pieces, Too Much, Problem

  Artur Schnabel (1970). “My Life and Music”, p.122, Courier Corporation

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• Children are given Mozart because of the small quantity of the notes; grown-ups avoid Mozart because of the great quality of the notes.

  Artur Schnabel

  Children, Quality, Notes

  Artur Schnabel (1970). “My Life and Music”, p.122, Courier Corporation

  23 Copy quote

• Mozart is a garden, Schubert is a forest in light and shade, but Beethoven is a mountain range.

  Artur Schnabel

  Garden, Mountain Ranges, Light

  24 Copy quote

• Have I a secret about playing the piano? It's a very simple one. I sit down on the piano stool and make myself comfortable - and I always make sure that the lid over the keyboard is open before I start to play.

  Artur Schnabel

  Learning, Simple, Play

  25 Copy quote

• Practice in tranquility.

  Artur Schnabel

  Practice, Tranquility

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• When a piece gets difficult, make faces.

  Artur Schnabel

  Pieces, Faces, Funny Music

  Quoted in Oscar LevantTheUnimportance of BeingOscar (1968).

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• I am attracted only to music which I consider to be better than it can be performed.

  Artur Schnabel

  Music, Great Music, Music Is

  "My Life and Music" by Artur Schnabel, (p. 121), 1961.

  16 Copy quote

• It is not music's function to express rational necessities.

  Artur Schnabel

  Function, Rational

  Artur Schnabel (1942). “Music and the Line of Most Resistance”

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• Applause is a receipt, not a note of demand.

  Artur Schnabel

  Demand, Notes, Applause

  "Saturday Review" Magazine, September 29, 1951.

  19 Copy quote

• I practice in my head.

  Artur Schnabel

  Inspirational Life, Practice

  12 Copy quote

• Mozart is the most inaccessible of the great masters.

  Artur Schnabel

  Masters, Inaccessible

  9 Copy quote

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