I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt read more

I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt like de Kooning, who was asked to comment on a certain abstract painting, and answered in the negative. He was then told it was the work of a celebrated monkey. 'That's different. For a monkey, it's terrific.'

True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my read more

True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.

The choirs left the main tune and soared two octaves past heaven in a descant to rattle the bones and read more

The choirs left the main tune and soared two octaves past heaven in a descant to rattle the bones and surge the heart.

I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long read more

I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more.

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.

Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.

Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.

When I speak of the gifted listener, I am thinking of the nonmusician primarily, of the listener who intends to read more

When I speak of the gifted listener, I am thinking of the nonmusician primarily, of the listener who intends to retain his amateur status. It is the thought of just such a listener that excites the composer in me.

To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.

To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.

It's a marvelous feeling when someone says "I want to do this song of yours" because they've connected to it. read more

It's a marvelous feeling when someone says "I want to do this song of yours" because they've connected to it. That's what I'm after.