I hated teaching composition. I was playing music I didn't particularly want to play, being on committees I didn't want to be on.

I wanted to write music, and cook, and play cards, and have a nice time.

People ask what was the first piece of music I wrote. There was no first piece.

I was a catastrophe at Science and Games, but the good thing about Quaker schools is that they encourage you in those subjects for which you show an aptitude.

I just scribbled away and eventually a C-major chord was there. I didn't ever decide I was going to be a composer. It was like being tall. It's what I was. It's what I did.

Elizabeth Lutyens was the first professional composer that I ever knew. I sent someextremely infantile pieces that I I'd written and got marvellous encouragement andinterest from her... she's certainly the English composer who's influenced me themost.

I am proud to be able to claim that, from the age of nineteen, I've managed to earna living entirely as a composer.