All These Tales Of People Sitting Down

Out Of My Entire Annual Output Of Songs, Perhaps Two, Or At The Most Three, Came As A Result Of Inspiration. We Can Never Rely On Inspiration. When We Most Want It, It Does Not Come.

Writing Music Is Not So Much Inspiration As Hard Work.

All These Tales Of People Sitting Down And Composing Symphonies Just As Though They Were Writing A Letter Are Very Much Exaggerated; At Least, It Isn't That Way In My Work.

The Composer Does Not Sit Around And Wait For An Inspiration To Walk Up And Introduce Itself...making Music Is Actually Little Else Than A Matter Of Invention Aided And Abetted By Emotion. In Composing We Combine What We Know Of Music With What We Feel.

Not Many Composers Have Ideas. Far More Of Them Know How To Use Strange Instruments Which Do Not Require Ideas.