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.

Tom he was a piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young;
Bug all the read more

Tom he was a piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young;
Bug all the tune that he could play
Was "Over the hills and far away."
- Unattributed Author,

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

All the sounds of the earth are like music.

All the sounds of the earth are like music.

If music and sweet poetry agree.

If music and sweet poetry agree.

Modern recording has made it so that people can spend forever taking shortcuts and making everything uniform, but that strips read more

Modern recording has made it so that people can spend forever taking shortcuts and making everything uniform, but that strips music of what makes it exciting.

It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: read more

It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting beauty of monotony.

Music tells no truths.

Music tells no truths.

Wagner's music has some wonderful moments but awful half hours.

Wagner's music has some wonderful moments but awful half hours.