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. . . consequence is not
an exigency of art.
That is wherein art and science differ principally. While science has to
demonstrate its problems perfectly and completely without any omission
and from every point of view, and has therefore to proceed systematically,
logically and consequently, art presents only a certain number of
interesting
cases and strives for perfection by the manner of presentation. Therefore
art is more inclined to choose its cases according to variety rather than
to system, according to structural qualifications rather than to consequence.
To mention such commonplace wisdom should appear superficial, were it not
that the theorists always fall into the error of believing their theories
to be rules for composers instead of symptoms of the works, rules which
a composer has to obey, instead of peculiarities which are extracted from
the works. Of course, these rules ask for consequence, for logic and systematic
procedure.
Arnold Schoenberg
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