Music, I feel, must be emotional first and intellectual second.
The only love affair I have ever had was with music.
Why become a second-rate Ravel when you're already a first-rate Gershwin?
You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel.
I begin by considering an effect.
For Debussy the musician and the man I have had profound admiration, but by nature I'm different from him. I think I have always personally followed a direction opposed to that of the symbolism of Debussy.