Music is a higher revelation than philosophy.

Music is a higher revelation than philosophy.

Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.

Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.

As the longfingered sun
reaches out to touch
a cloistered trillium
or a lake trembles in
the light of read more

As the longfingered sun
reaches out to touch
a cloistered trillium
or a lake trembles in
the light of moon and stars
so can a poet's long rainbow
of words
play our heartstrings from afar.

Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune.

Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune.

I'm not saying I wasn't flawed or amateurish. But you can never say I did anything to appease the music read more

I'm not saying I wasn't flawed or amateurish. But you can never say I did anything to appease the music business.

The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies read more

The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies and his life just to make sure that one note follows another . . . and leaves us with the feeling that something is right in the world.

And hears thy stormy music in the drum!

And hears thy stormy music in the drum!

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.

Sometimes I feel like rap music is almost the key to stopping racism.

Sometimes I feel like rap music is almost the key to stopping racism.