How do I best explain? In my first example (my copy), the text is indicating that the improv solo is not a piece of music "in the sense that the exact notes are not printed...", indicating to me that there is more than one sense that defines a piece of music. So if you looked at the sheet music for this particular solo, you would find something other than the notes printed. In the case of an improv solo, you find "chord changes"...essentially information that guides the soloist in the right direction, but does not spell out the exact notes to play. Make sense in that example? In the second example (my copy), there is a leap made that I don't think is correct: "Because the solo is not a piece of music...". You see, I think in the first example the author is not claiming that it isn't a piece of music, but rather that it is a piece of music (but that there is more than one sense that defines it. Does that help clear up the confusion? The "original" examples are from two seperate publications. You can see how one quotes the other. The first one I posted (I'll call that author/publication "A") is the original source with its entire quote/idea clearly spelled out. The second one I posted (I'll call that "B") is the one doing the quoting, although it is doing so in an incomplete way without any indication that part of the quote is missing. It is a controversial topic, so I wanted to come up with a non-controversial topic so as to not get distracted by it. However, it does sound obsurd when I put it in the context of music. But maybe that will help with the analysis of it. I am sure I understand what "A" is trying to communicate, and I'm sure I understand what "B" is trying to communicate, but when you look at how "B" quotes "A", I don't think it is communicating in "B" what it was in "A". I think truth in writing is important, and I would like to be able to understand the mechanism in language that gives it its integrity. I am open to any and all suggestions. I am sure there is a way to explain what's going on grammatically.