The retrospective glance is a relatively easy gesture for us to make.

Although technical discussions are interesting to composers, I suspect that the truly magical and spiritual powers of music arise from deeper levels of our psyche.

One very important aspect of our contemporary musical culture - some might say the supremely important aspect - is its extension in the historical and geographical senses to a degree unknown in the past.

Unquestionably, our contemporary world of music is far richer, in a sense, than earlier periods, due to the historical and geographical extensions of culture to which I have referred.

I am optimistic about the future of music.

Writing seems to be more difficult as you move through the years.

Music might be defined as a system of proportions in the service of a spiritual impulse