Composition and Improvisation

"In 1968 I ran into Steve Lacy on the street in Rome. I took out my pocket tape recorder and asked him to describe in fifteen seconds the difference between composition and improvisation. He answered: 'In fifteen seconds the difference between composition and improvisation is that in composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in fifteen seconds, while in improvisation you have fifteen seconds.' His answer lasted exactly fifteen seconds."

Frederic Rzewski

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Every step is a first step if it's a step in the right direction. - Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight
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