You know that I become quite powerless whenever I am obliged to write for an instrument which I cannot bear.

Creativity is the firing of my soul.

You know that I become quite powerless whenever I am obliged to write for an instrument which I cannot bear.

When I am at peace with myself . . . then thoughts flow into me most easily and at their best. Where they come from and how - that I cannot say . . . I'd be willing to work forever and forever if I were permitted to write only such music as I want to write and can write - which I myself think good.

It is a mistake to think that the price of my art has become easy to me.

Write to me and don't be so lazy. Otherwise I shall have to give you a thrashing. What fun! I'll break your head.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.