It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table. . . So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.