I think there are influences that you open the door to, and influences that come under the door.

People say my music is English. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's not me writing English music, but that English music is becoming more like me.

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

When I dealt with set theory, I could never make it be the music that I wanted.

There are rhythmic ideas which sometimes only work up to a point. In writing there are moments when it just comes off the page, it's not just a collection of notes.

The thing about influence is that any composer worth anything will give you the same names.

My operas usually come from musical ideas rather than ideas about subject matter.