Quotes by Composer | Beyond Motive 25/27

top of page

Quotes by Composer

"There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between."

"There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between."

Thomas Beecham, English Composer

16

"I wanted to play piano, and that slid quickly into writing - it wasn't enough to play other people's notes: I had to write notes too."

"I wanted to play piano, and that slid quickly into writing - it wasn't enough to play other people's notes: I had to write notes too."

Luc Ferrari, French Composer

People, Play, Writing

16

"What we ask of music, first and last, is that it communicate experience - experience of all kinds, vital and profound at its greatest, amusing or entertaining at another level."

"What we ask of music, first and last, is that it communicate experience - experience of all kinds, vital and profound at its greatest, amusing or entertaining at another level."

Roger Sessions, American Composer

Experience, Music, First

16

"I saw a great many men die afterwards, some suffering horribly, but I do not recall any death that affected me quite so much as that of this first victim in my platoon."

"I saw a great many men die afterwards, some suffering horribly, but I do not recall any death that affected me quite so much as that of this first victim in my platoon."

Fritz Kreisler, Austrian Composer

Death, Men, First, Suffering

16

"My father had left behind an old piano. My sister was already going to school, my mother was out working, and I stayed at home alone with my adorable grandmother who understood nothing I said. It was so boring that I stayed at the piano all day long, and that saved my life."

"My father had left behind an old piano. My sister was already going to school, my mother was out working, and I stayed at home alone with my adorable grandmother who understood nothing I said. It was so boring that I stayed at the piano all day long, and that saved my life."

Michel Legrand, French Composer

Home, Life, Mother, Father

16

"In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain."

"In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain."

George Szell, Hungarian Composer

16

"And it is this sense that some of us have to contribute to the culture, to the society in ways that may hurt financially, so what? We do it because we are born to do it, we feel we have no other choice and so be it."

"And it is this sense that some of us have to contribute to the culture, to the society in ways that may hurt financially, so what? We do it because we are born to do it, we feel we have no other choice and so be it."

Gunther Schuller, American Composer

Society, Choice, Culture, Hurt

16

"Style is the dress of thought; a modest dress, Neat, but not gaudy, will true critics please."

"Style is the dress of thought; a modest dress, Neat, but not gaudy, will true critics please."

Samuel Wesley, English Composer

Thought, Dress, Style, Will

16

"I would like to read some books: I don't have time; I would like to continue working on my autobiography."

"I would like to read some books: I don't have time; I would like to continue working on my autobiography."

Gunther Schuller, American Composer

Time, Autobiography

16

"Minimalism now is a reaction to what came before. It's absolutely of its time. Music moved into the set theory thing, and moved out of it."

"Minimalism now is a reaction to what came before. It's absolutely of its time. Music moved into the set theory thing, and moved out of it."

Harrison Birtwistle, British Composer

Music, Time, Now, Theory

16

"I was never a quick writer, but composed with great care and efforts."

"I was never a quick writer, but composed with great care and efforts."

Joseph Haydn, Austrian Composer

Care, Quick, Writer

15

"The people who are making money are the ones who are writing and singing their own songs."

"The people who are making money are the ones who are writing and singing their own songs."

Jimmy Webb, American Composer

Money, People, Singing, Songs

15

"Then I grew up and fell in love, I asked my sweetheart, 'what lies ahead?"

"Then I grew up and fell in love, I asked my sweetheart, 'what lies ahead?"

Jay Livingston, American Composer

15

"But communication is two-sided - vital and profound communication makes demands also on those who are to receive it... demands in the sense of concentration, of genuine effort to receive what is being communicated."

"But communication is two-sided - vital and profound communication makes demands also on those who are to receive it... demands in the sense of concentration, of genuine effort to receive what is being communicated."

Roger Sessions, American Composer

Being, Communication, Effort, Sense

15

"However in countries outside of Japan I think game music is still a potential growth market that has not yet developed to the extent that we are seeing in Japan."

"However in countries outside of Japan I think game music is still a potential growth market that has not yet developed to the extent that we are seeing in Japan."

Nobuo Uematsu, Japanese Composer

Music, Growth, Countries, Potential

15

"I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer."

"I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer."

Richard Strauss, German Composer

15

"There's got to be something that you can do that will not just be a nice honor to the play, or the book, or the movie you're dealing with, but some aspect that maybe can explore something that the play couldn't do."

"There's got to be something that you can do that will not just be a nice honor to the play, or the book, or the movie you're dealing with, but some aspect that maybe can explore something that the play couldn't do."

William Bolcom, American Composer

Honor, Play, Will

15

"A nation creates music - the composer only arranges it."

"A nation creates music - the composer only arranges it."

Mikhail Glinka, Russian Composer

15

"Women's music is underrepresented."

"Women's music is underrepresented."

Beth Anderson, American Composer

15

"Well, I decided earlier this year that I would run for president, and obviously I needed something to run on."

"Well, I decided earlier this year that I would run for president, and obviously I needed something to run on."

Craig Armstrong, British Composer

15

"Composition gives proper meaning to the natural streams of sound that penetrate the world."

"Composition gives proper meaning to the natural streams of sound that penetrate the world."

Toru Takemitsu, Japanese Composer

Meaning, Sound, World

15

"The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes." And "Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be, "No.""

"The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes." And "Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be, "No.""

Aaron Copland, American Composer

Music, Meaning, State, Words

15

"Today you have something like A Film by Joe Harry. That is patently asinine and ridiculous."

"Today you have something like A Film by Joe Harry. That is patently asinine and ridiculous."

Elmer Bernstein, American Composer

15

"Because I have sixty years of being a professional composer, conductor, musician, whatever, and you develop a lot of friendships and you get involved with a lot of sort of long-term commitments and obligations."

"Because I have sixty years of being a professional composer, conductor, musician, whatever, and you develop a lot of friendships and you get involved with a lot of sort of long-term commitments and obligations."

Gunther Schuller, American Composer

15

"Music is not man's invention, but his heritage from the blessed spirits."

"Music is not man's invention, but his heritage from the blessed spirits."

Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish Composer

Music, Invention, Man, Spirits

15

"These two are not two Love has made them one Amo Ergo Sum! And by its mystery Each is no less but more."

"These two are not two Love has made them one Amo Ergo Sum! And by its mystery Each is no less but more."

Benjamin Britten, English Composer

15

"What I try to impart to a musician is to really try to practice the instrument in a really sincere way. Learn as much about music as you possibly can. Learn composition. Study to try to create compositions of your own and put your own personal touch on your music."

"What I try to impart to a musician is to really try to practice the instrument in a really sincere way. Learn as much about music as you possibly can. Learn composition. Study to try to create compositions of your own and put your own personal touch on your music."

Roscoe Mitchell, American Composer

Music, Practice, Study

15

"That was something. As opposed to nothing."

"That was something. As opposed to nothing."

Kevin Ayers, English Composer

14

"When I need the idea, I can find it immediately. I have a horror of rewriting or deleting; the parts of my composition are carried in my head 'till I can write them down, even to the last note. Then I do not alter a jot."

"When I need the idea, I can find it immediately. I have a horror of rewriting or deleting; the parts of my composition are carried in my head 'till I can write them down, even to the last note. Then I do not alter a jot."

Ruggero Leoncavallo, Italian Composer

14

"If you already have a piece of music ingrained in your body, why would you not play it?"

"If you already have a piece of music ingrained in your body, why would you not play it?"

Keith Jarrett, American Composer

Music, Body, Play

14

"The laws of morals and the laws of music are the same."

"The laws of morals and the laws of music are the same."

Zoltan Kodaly, Hungarian Composer

Music, Laws, Morals

14

"You don't have to want to, you just have to do it."

"You don't have to want to, you just have to do it."

Andrew Law, American Composer

14

"So this anchoring in some way, in some important way in the past without repeating the past, but on the basis of the past building something new: that is what is important."

"So this anchoring in some way, in some important way in the past without repeating the past, but on the basis of the past building something new: that is what is important."

Gunther Schuller, American Composer

14

"My mother had to explain that one couldn't compose a Liszt rhapsody because it was a piece of music that Liszt himself had composed."

"My mother had to explain that one couldn't compose a Liszt rhapsody because it was a piece of music that Liszt himself had composed."

Sergei Prokofiev, Russian Composer

14

"I don't think I'll ever be president of anything."

"I don't think I'll ever be president of anything."

Hoagy Carmichael, American Composer

14

"Someone who knows only music, understands nothing about it."

"Someone who knows only music, understands nothing about it."

Hanns Eisler, German Composer

14

"Final thoughts are so, you know, final. Let's call them closing words."

"Final thoughts are so, you know, final. Let's call them closing words."

Craig Armstrong, British Composer

Thought, Thoughts, Words

14

"Now I have children of my own. They ask their mother what will I be. Will I be handsome, will I be rich?"

"Now I have children of my own. They ask their mother what will I be. Will I be handsome, will I be rich?"

Jay Livingston, American Composer

Mother, Children, Now, Will

14

"There's no way I can compete with someone who can write rap or rock and roll. Nor do I wish to. But I've always kept up to date with music changes. I worked very hard not to type myself."

"There's no way I can compete with someone who can write rap or rock and roll. Nor do I wish to. But I've always kept up to date with music changes. I worked very hard not to type myself."

Elmer Bernstein, American Composer

14

"The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety."

"The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety."

Felix Mendelssohn, German Composer

14

"I don't hate work, composing is not work for me, it's my pleasure; it's my life. So why should I stop? If something is pleasurable and exciting and rewarding, why should one stop?"

"I don't hate work, composing is not work for me, it's my pleasure; it's my life. So why should I stop? If something is pleasurable and exciting and rewarding, why should one stop?"

Gunther Schuller, American Composer

Work, Life, Hate, Pleasure

14

"I am terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music will be put on records forever."

"I am terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music will be put on records forever."

Arthur Sullivan, British Composer

Music, Thought, Will

14

"Everything is just better in California - the wine, the food, fruits and vegetables, the comforts of living. Even the instrumentalists are generous and curious. Everything is wonderful."

"Everything is just better in California - the wine, the food, fruits and vegetables, the comforts of living. Even the instrumentalists are generous and curious. Everything is wonderful."

Beth Anderson, American Composer

Food, Living, Wine

14

"Now I have finished with all earthly business, and high time too. Yes, yes, my dear child, now comes death."

"Now I have finished with all earthly business, and high time too. Yes, yes, my dear child, now comes death."

Franz Lehar, Austrian Composer

Death, Time, Business, Now

14

"Negroes at last were on Broadway, and there to stay. We were artists and we were going a long way."

"Negroes at last were on Broadway, and there to stay. We were artists and we were going a long way."

Will M. Cook, American Composer

Artist, Artists

14

"I like the variety. But basically my choice of films is a small intimate film. Quiet film, no action, just people in relationships. That's what I like the most."

"I like the variety. But basically my choice of films is a small intimate film. Quiet film, no action, just people in relationships. That's what I like the most."

Jerry Goldsmith, American Composer

People, Action, Choice, Film

14

"Artists like Bach and Beethoven erected churches and temples on the heights. I only wanted... to build dwellings for men in which they might feel happy and at home."

"Artists like Bach and Beethoven erected churches and temples on the heights. I only wanted... to build dwellings for men in which they might feel happy and at home."

Edvard Grieg, Norwegian Composer

Home, Men, Artists, Churches

14

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original."

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original."

Joseph Haydn, Austrian Composer

13

"In the first place, you must pay great attention to the key note."

"In the first place, you must pay great attention to the key note."

William Billings, American Composer

Attention, First, Key

13

"The old idea of a composer suddenly having a terrific idea and sitting up all night to write it is nonsense. Nighttime is for sleeping."

"The old idea of a composer suddenly having a terrific idea and sitting up all night to write it is nonsense. Nighttime is for sleeping."

Benjamin Britten, English Composer

Idea, Night, Nonsense, Old

13

bottom of page