I was much more interested in the orchestra than the piano, but I did become fairly proficient as a pianist and my teachers felt I had talent and wanted me to become a good concert pianist and earn my living that way.

To me, atonality is against nature. There is a center to everything that exists. The planets have the sun, the earth, the moon.

I found a greater identity with my own emotions in the Armenian culture as I grew older, as well as from the beginning, although I didn't know anything about it.

I've always regarded nature as the clothing of God.

There is nothing like practice.

My mother's background was Scottish. She came from an old family, some of whom lived in upper New York State and some of whom had come over from Scotland.

I think that of my 21 symphonies, each has its own place.