My masters are strange folk with very little care for music in them.

On land, on sea, at home abroad, I smoke my pipe and worship God.

I worked hard. Anyone who works as hard as I did can achieve the same results. The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.

Without my morning coffee I'm just like a dried up piece of roast goat.

Ceaseless work, analysis, reflection, writing much, endless self-correction, that is my secret.

Bring me coffee before I turn into a goat!

A Composition on the Piano