My musical life started with hearing and being fascinated by contemporary music.

Silences between movements are employed only in order to bring the opposing duo to the fore.

When I was in Paris, all of the German refugees began to flow in and it was a very sad time.

Aaron Copland was a man that had a very specific point of view about what music should be which was that, he felt that new music should have the composer should show a personality in his music.

The Third Quartet I made the instruments in pairs - Two different pairs - Violin and viola, and violin and cello. They played very different things from each other all through the whole piece.

Almost every one of my various zero numbered birthdays has had a big concert in London and often in Paris.

Since I'm allergic to various things, the army wouldn't accept me during the war, and I got into the Office of War Information, which sent music to Europe.

Yes, I get a report from BMI about the frequency of performances, and it is very surprising. They played one of my most advanced pieces, and one of my most unusual ones on the radio.

Talking about a materialistic thing, I get about 13 times more royalties from Europe than I do from America.

The first thing that struck me about contemporary music in general had been thatthere was not much interest in rhythm.

Why write for the orchestra? For one thing it's a very challenging problem.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.

Pain is a part of life...misery is an option.

Life in the twentieth century undeniably has ... such richness, joy and adventure as were unknown to our ancestors except in their dreams.

I don't play video games.

There are about 30 words around you all the time, like 'thread' or 'exit.'

Our own genomes carry the story of evolution, written in DNA, the language of molecular genetics, and the narrative is unmistakable.

The Congress fights not with violent but with nonviolent means, however imperfect, however crude the nonviolence may be.

My art and profession is to live.

Speaking of, her family is due in any minute to claim her body. What am I supposed to tell them when we can’t give the body over? Again, I don’t think ‘oops’ will quite cover it. (Tate)

The established order has too many self-protecting economic entities, and not enough people who yet understand what it takes to change.