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 CoriglianoYou become a great composer when you win a Pulitzer. But I think that now it's a completely meaningless award.
John Corigliano