The Mule Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Over the years I've seen the quote, "Writing about jazz is like dancing about architecture," attributed to several people but most often to Thelonius Monk. Does anybody know if Monk actually said it? If he didn't, who did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 I once saw the phrase "Writing about music is like dancing about architechture" attributed to Elvis Costello! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 (edited) I've seen it attributed to Laurie Anderson (as "writing about MUSIC"), which I can believe. Edited September 18, 2003 by jazzbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Dye Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Ditto Laurie Anderson here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Check out this link: http://home.pacifier.com/~ascott/they/tamildaa.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 It was Frank Zappa. The actual quote is "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted September 18, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Fascinating link, Lon. Good find. Thing is, I know I've seen that quote attributed to Monk IN PRINT more than once. Can't remember where tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 I first heard it was Grace Slick that first said this famous quote. But I've since see dozens of other people who have supposedly said it first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 It was probably Bill Shakespeare. He always came up with cool lines like that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe. If that's the case, then Marlowe had the worst literary agent and publicist of all time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Now if you'd have said PHILLIP Marlowe, I'd have believed you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe. Can't compare them, Dan. Marlow barely wrote anything; what was it Dr. Faustus? along with something else. Shakespeare was a marvel and we should have a thread on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Weil Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe. Can't compare them, Dan. Marlow barely wrote anything; what was it Dr. Faustus? along with something else. "The Jew of Malta" and "Tamberlaine" are the two that come up. Shakespeare was a marvel and we should have a thread on him. Man, you're pining to do lit crit again... Simon Weil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Storer Posted September 19, 2003 Report Share Posted September 19, 2003 Shakespeare? Nah, it was Mark Twain. Mark Twain is the author of all known quotes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted September 19, 2003 Report Share Posted September 19, 2003 Ahhhh, Mark Twain was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minew Posted September 19, 2003 Report Share Posted September 19, 2003 Obviously, none of the users of this board have a problem with writing about music. Dancing about architecture seems like it would be cool, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 19, 2003 Report Share Posted September 19, 2003 Actually, I have a big big problem writing about music. I can write about the emotional response it invokes in me (and to a less certain extent a few others.) I can talk about a historical aspect of the music, a fact or three about the musicians or the studio or the chart number or the dedicatee or the inspiration. I can talk about a few notes and chords and some influences and my PERSONAL LIKES. But I really have a hard time writing about music, really a hard time at the core. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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