"I'm always improving and I want to get better and never hit a plateau. I find it an amazing adventure."
About Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy — Life and Legacy
Nigel Kennedy is a celebrated violinist recognized for his dynamic performances and unconventional approach to classical music. His distinctive style is characterized by a blend of classical technique and a deep emotional connection to his art, which he articulates through his famous quote, 'Music is a way of life.' This reflects his belief that music should resonate with personal experience and authenticity. Kennedy's core philosophy revolves around the idea that music must be expressive and free, challenging the rigid structures often found in classical performances. He has stated, 'You have to be true to yourself,' which underscores his commitment to authenticity in artistry. This perspective has allowed him to break barriers within the classical genre, inviting a broader audience to engage with his work. His impact on the music world is significant; Kennedy's innovative interpretations of classical pieces have not only revitalized interest in the genre but have also inspired a new generation of musicians to embrace creativity and personal expression. His quotes continue to resonate, encouraging artists to pursue their unique voices and challenge conventional norms.
Quote collection
Nigel Kennedy quotes
14 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I hate complacency. I play every gig as if it could be my last, then I enjoy it more than ever."
"You can't learn pathos or profundity."
"Even if you're playing Brahms or a Beethoven concerto, you've got to have a different vantage point, slightly, each time."
"If you're playing within your capability, what's the point? If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're not really doing your job."
"If you do the same thing every night, that's the death of music."
"I've learnt new scales through playing different types of music, like Indian raga scales, gipsy scales and harmonically-based jazz scales."
"Maybe it's egocentric or whatever, but when I'm playing Beethoven, Bach, Hendrix, or whoever it is, in the end, it just feels like my own music and I'm making it up as I'm going along."
"Menuhin was playing Bach on a fantastic spiritual level when he was a teenager."
"I see it as my job to try to keep Bach in the mainstream and present his music with, rather than without, its emotional core."
"I can think and play stuff in classical music that possibly violinists who didn't have access to other types of music could never do. It means I'm more flexible within classical music, to be a servant to the composer."
"I think Bach is equally a romantic composer because he laid the seeds harmonically for people like Chopin and the great Romantics, Brahms, so its difficult to you know all this like labelling and putting - I think Bach is attractive to musicians because he supersedes the labels."
"Bach was a top harmonist geezer, which is why the jazz cats love him."
"The Beatles are a classical group because they're classic."