Melody is the essence of music.
It is a mistake to think that the price of my art has become easy to me.
People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to compositions as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.
The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.
Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.
Love guards the heart from the abyss.