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'm glad I won it because when I grew up the Pulitzer was the award that every composer wanted and I was like that too.
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 CoriglianoI don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it is. I think the competition should be anonymous. I think completely different people would win it if the names were taken off because a lot of it is done on relationships and names.
John Corigliano