We musicians, like everyone else, are numb with sorrow at this murder, and with rage at the senselessness of the crime. But this sorrow and rage will not inflame us to seek retribution; rather they will inflame our art. Our music will never again be quite the same. This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before. And with each note we will honor the spirit of John Kennedy, commemorate his courage, and reaffirm his faith in the Triumph of the Mind.

The most difficult instrument to play in the orchestra is second fiddle.

What [Louis Armstrong] does is real, and true, and honest, and simple, and even noble. Every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips, even if only to practice three notes, he does it with his whole soul.

To be a success as a Broadway composer, you must be Jewish or gay. I'm both.

I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer.

When the study of the arts leads to the adoration of the formula (heaven forbid), we shall be lost.

Life without music is unthinkable.