The great men of music close periods; they do not inaugurate them. The pioneer work, the finding of new paths, is left to smaller men.

Wagner used to read the libretti of his operas to his friends; I am glad I was not there.

The art of music above all the other arts is the expression of the soul of a nation.

Beethoven was ahead of the times, Bach behind them.

Have we not all about us forms of a musical expression which we can take and purify and raise to the level of great art?.

I suppose it never occurs to these people that a man might just want to write a piece of music.

Music is the reaching out towards the utmost realities by means of ordered sound.