If you take a violin, you can make it sound 50 different ways. Not just pizzicato and played by the bow, but ponticello, and harmonics, and tremolos. If you take an oboe and play it, there's about one way you can make it sound: like an oboe.
John CoriglianoI find respect for a mediocre British composer, as opposed to a really good American, ridiculous because they automatically respect a composer if he's from England.
John CoriglianoI think it's good for the composer to teach because you always have new students and you have to begin at the beginning and make things clear.
John Corigliano