Aaron Copland was a man that had a very specific point of view about what music should be which was that, he felt that new music should have the composer should show a personality in his music.

Yes, I get a report from BMI about the frequency of performances, and it is very surprising. They played one of my most advanced pieces, and one of my most unusual ones on the radio.

The first thing that struck me about contemporary music in general had been thatthere was not much interest in rhythm.

The Quartets have been a major part of my work.

Silences between movements are employed only in order to bring the opposing duo to the fore.

Well when I was young, when I was very young, when I was a little boy I don't remember the music I heard, but there was an article in the Brooklyn Daily written by my Aunt about how I could choose phonograph records.

Why write for the orchestra? For one thing it's a very challenging problem.