It's the irrational things that interest me.

In the end it doesn't matter what you do.

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.

My operas and my theatre works are very formal pieces.

Minimalism now is a reaction to what came before. It's absolutely of its time. Music moved into the set theory thing, and moved out of it.

I wrote music as soon as I knew notation.

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.