To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil. - Talking to Myself.

To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil. - Talking to Myself.

But Bellenden we needs must praise,
Who as down the stairs she jumps
Sings o'er the hill read more

But Bellenden we needs must praise,
Who as down the stairs she jumps
Sings o'er the hill and far away,
Despising doleful dumps.
- Unattributed Author,

Every act, every deed of justice and mercy and benevolence, makes heavenly music in Heaven.

Every act, every deed of justice and mercy and benevolence, makes heavenly music in Heaven.

Life without music would be a mistake.

Life without music would be a mistake.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

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.

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.'

Opera in English is, in the main, about as sensible as baseball in Italian.

Opera in English is, in the main, about as sensible as baseball in Italian.

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.