I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt read more

I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt like de Kooning, who was asked to comment on a certain abstract painting, and answered in the negative. He was then told it was the work of a celebrated monkey. 'That's different. For a monkey, it's terrific.'

The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning to music?' My answer would be, read more

The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning to music?' My answer would be, 'Yes.' And 'Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be, 'No.'

Music tells no truths.

Music tells no truths.

We consider that any man who can fiddle all through one of those Virginia Reels without losing his grip, may read more

We consider that any man who can fiddle all through one of those Virginia Reels without losing his grip, may be depended upon in any kind of musical emergency.

The musician who always plays on the same string is laughed at.

The musician who always plays on the same string is laughed at.

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.

Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory.

Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory.

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.

I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long read more

I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more.