Music owes as much to Bach as religion to its founder.

That first concept is alway the most naturally and best. The mind errs, the emotion never.

We may be sure that a genius like Mozart, were he born today, would write concertos like Chopin and not like Mozart.

Mendelssohn I consider the first musician of the day; I doff my hat to him as my superior. He plays with everything, especially with the grouping of the instruments in the orchestra, but with such ease, delicacy and art, with such mastery throughout.

If we were all determined to play the first violin we should never have an ensemble. therefore, respect every musician in his proper place.

In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of.

You should diligently play scales and fingerpractices. There are many, however, who believe they'll achieve all, by practicing daily on technique for hours on end, up till high age. It's like practicing every day to enumerate the alfabet faster and faster. One would think one could make better use of their valuable time.