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.

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

I have tremendous respect for film composers.

Art is not only about angst.

I think art can reflect tragedy.

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.

I'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.