Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle Classical music has its equivalent to the grain of sand that produces a pearl.
Composers often spin out long sections of music, even entire compositions, from kernels.
A parallel process occurs in performance. How players express the core ideas of a piece becomes the key to their unique interpretations. How the performing ensemble treats that rhythm largely determines the interpretation. A canter could lead to ebullience and playfulness. A mad dash might mean intensity and gruffness.