Quotes by Composers

It is obvious that anything a scientist discovers or invents is based on previous discoveries and inventions. The same applies to the arts. Lukas Foss

Inventions Previous Obvious Scientist Discoveries Discovers Same Arts Anything Based

I still do not know where the notes will come from when I accept a commission for a new work. Lukas Foss

Work Will New Come Know Accept Still Commission Where Notes

Any creator owes a debt to past creation. Lukas Foss

Past Owes Creation Debt Any Creator

True excellence is a product of synergy. Mack Wilberg

Synergy Excellence True Product

Our mandate is to sing for everyone. We don't just sing for one group or sing one genre... This is everybody's choir. Mack Wilberg

Group Everybody Everyone Our Sing Genre Mandate Just Choir

Usually, all I want is peace and quiet when I'm driving home. Mack Wilberg

Home Peace Driving Quiet Want Peace And Quiet

Sometimes I prefer when I can hear other people conduct my music so I can sit out and actually hear it. When you are in the middle of it, sometimes it's a little bit hard to hear and get the whole effect. Mack Wilberg

Music You People Sometimes Sit Other Bit Out Hear Effect Conduct Get Middle Little Prefer Little Bit Hard Whole Actually

There are probably limits on what the choir can sing well. Mack Wilberg

Sing Well Limits Choir

A requiem is meant to bring comfort. Mack Wilberg

Comfort Requiem Meant Bring

I do think one of my strengths is the ability to adapt to whatever the situation is. Mack Wilberg

Whatever Situation Think Ability Strengths Adapt

There's something kind of wonderful about men singing lullabies. Mack Wilberg

Wonderful Men Singing Kind About Something Something Kind

Music has unique ways of speaking to the soul. Mack Wilberg

Music Soul Ways Speaking Unique

Touring takes a lot of work, a lot of preparation. Mack Wilberg

Work Preparation Touring Takes Lot

Music is the social act of communication among people, a gesture of friendship, the strongest there is. Malcolm Arnold

Friendship Music Communication People Gesture Strongest Social Act Among

Although I enjoyed writing Film Music it was always a means to an end, in that it enabled me to keep a wife and family and write my classical music, which has always been my passion. Malcolm Arnold

Music Family Me Writing Passion Wife Classical Classical Music Write Although Always Been End Which Means Keep Film Enjoyed Film Music

If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.' Marvin Hamlisch

Say Tendency Reach Within Yes Hard Helpful

Barbra Streisand is without a doubt one of the most honest people I have ever known. There is no doubt in my mind that she will not be doing any more concerts. Of course, she still will be making records and starring and directing in movies. Marvin Hamlisch

People Mind Will Doubt No Doubt Directing More Records Most She Known Course Concerts Without Making Still Doing Any Movies Barbra Streisand Ever Streisand Honest Honest People

As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and funny and high nervous energy can work against me as a serious composer, slowly but surely you'll see me be quieter just so that people will listen. Marvin Hamlisch

Work Funny Me You People Seriously Will Nervous Energy Down Older High Entertaining See Composer Slowing Slowly Taken Calming Surely Yes Quieter Get Listen Just Against Serious Desire

From the time I could play the piano, I remember trying to write tunes. They were in my head, and I would just sit down and start noodling. Next thing I knew, I had written a melody. Marvin Hamlisch

Let's say music is needed for only 43 seconds of film. You have to score it so it is an entity, so it won't bother anyone when it ends so quickly. Or if a song runs 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the titles run a minute longer, you have to arrange that song so it doesn't get repetitious. Marvin Hamlisch

I can make a song up about anything: garbage, the weather, things in the news. Marvin Hamlisch

News Song Weather Garbage About Make Up Anything Things