God is its author, and not man; he laid
The key-note of all harmonies; he planned
All read more

God is its author, and not man; he laid
The key-note of all harmonies; he planned
All perfect combinations, and he made
Us so that we could hear and understand.

Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.

Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.

When I speak of the gifted listener, I am thinking of the nonmusician primarily, of the listener who intends to read more

When I speak of the gifted listener, I am thinking of the nonmusician primarily, of the listener who intends to retain his amateur status. It is the thought of just such a listener that excites the composer in me.

Modern recording has made it so that people can spend forever taking shortcuts and making everything uniform, but that strips read more

Modern recording has made it so that people can spend forever taking shortcuts and making everything uniform, but that strips music of what makes it exciting.

Wagner's music has some wonderful moments but awful half hours.

Wagner's music has some wonderful moments but awful half hours.

[T]he music's pure algebra of enchantment.

[T]he music's pure algebra of enchantment.

Most of the songs I sing have that blues feeling in it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't read more

Most of the songs I sing have that blues feeling in it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't know what I'm sorry about. I don't.

Through the music I hope to give it an arc that gives it a greater sense of a journey through read more

Through the music I hope to give it an arc that gives it a greater sense of a journey through the set rather than a bunch of songs.

I think often sadness is a great place to get songs from.

I think often sadness is a great place to get songs from.