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.

My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!

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

I think music has gone through a period of something very severe, rather radical, rather the way painting did with cubism.

I wrote music as soon as I knew notation.

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.

My operas and my theatre works are very formal pieces.