The melody is generally what the piece is all about.

You may be sitting in a room reading this book. Imagine one note struck upon the piano. Immediately that one note is enough to change the atmosphere of the room - proving that the sound element in music is a powerful and mysterious agent, which it would be foolish to deride or belittle.

A melody is not merely something you can hum.

Music that is born complex is not inherently better or worse than music that is born simple.

So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it and give it expressive meaning.

A great symphony is a man-made Mississippi down which we irresistibly flow from the instant of our leave-taking to a long forseen destination.

I adore extravagance but I abhor waste.