The trick is to compose what one wants to compose and to get it commissioned afterward.

I was born out of due time in the sense that by temperament and talent I should have been more suited for the life of a small Bach, living in anonymity and composing regularly for an established service and for God.

The Church knew what the psalmist knew: Music praises God. Music is well or better able to praise him than the building of the church and all its decoration; it is the Church's greatest ornament.

Just as appetite comes by eating, so work brings inspiration, if inspiration is not discernible at the beginning.

Mediocrity borrows, genius steals.

An artist is like a pig snouting truffles.

Film music should have the same relationship to the film drama that somebody's piano playing in my living room has on the book I am reading.