Never criticize the composition of a Royal Highness. You never know who may have written it.

In him converge all previous streams of tendency, not as into a pool, stagnant, passive, motionless, but as a noble river that received its tributary waters and bearss them onward in larger and statelier volume.

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.

The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

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

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.

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.