How Music Works

“The accepted narrative suggests that a classical composer gets a strange look in his or her eye and begins furiously scribbling a fully realized composition that couldn’t exist in any other form.”

This quote employs a blend of irony and hyperbole to challenge the romanticized myth of spontaneous artistic creation. David Byrne critiques the stereotypical image of a composer as a conduit for unbridled inspiration. The vivid imagery of “furiously scribbling” captures the perceived intensity and immediacy of creation, while the phrase “couldn’t exist in any other form” underscores the presumed uniqueness and purity of artistic inspiration. By questioning this narrative, Byrne sets the stage for his argument that creation is far more contextual and adaptive than traditionally believed.

“Opportunity and availability are often the mother of invention.”

Byrne uses a variation of the familiar adage “necessity is the mother of invention” to emphasize the pragmatic aspects of creativity. This paraphrase introduces the idea that artistic creation is not solely an internal, emotional process but is also significantly influenced by external factors like opportunity and availability. The choice of words like “opportunity” and “availability” shifts the focus from internal drive to external circumstance, highlighting the adaptability and practicality inherent in the creative process.