Quotes by Composers

I have to laugh to myself. I don't find it work to write music, because I enjoy it. I'd find an evening of bridge hard work because you have to think like hell, and at the end, you get nothing for it. Richard Rodgers

Work Music Hard Work Myself You Nothing Hell Enjoy Think Laugh Find Write Like Because End Get Hard Bridge Evening

I would like, if I can, to broaden the possibilities of the musical theater. I think there's a better 'Oklahoma!' someplace, a better 'West Side Story.' And I'd like to be mixed up in it. Richard Rodgers

Better Think Side Musical Broaden Musical Theater Oklahoma Possibilities Would Someplace Like Mixed West West Side West Side Story Up Story Theater

There isn't anything I wanted to do that I haven't. At the same time, there isn't anything I've ever done that I didn't want to do better. Richard Rodgers

Time Better Same Done Same Time Want Wanted Anything Ever

I was a catastrophe at Science and Games, but the good thing about Quaker schools is that they encourage you in those subjects for which you show an aptitude. Richard Rodney Bennett

Good You Science Those Aptitude About Good Thing Catastrophe Quaker Schools Encourage Subjects Which Show Games Thing

The different parts of my career seemed to take part in different rooms, albeit in the same house. It was just the way things were and I didn't actually think much about it at the time. Richard Rodney Bennett

Being on a musical quest was something I always enjoyed. Richard Rodney Bennett

Musical Something Always Quest Being Enjoyed

When I came across something I liked, I wanted to find out as much as I could about it. This was as true of hearing Hoagy Carmichael for the first time as it was later when I first heard Boulez. Richard Rodney Bennett

Time First Later Out Find About Something Could True Liked First Time Came Heard Hearing Wanted Much Across

I wanted to write music, and cook, and play cards, and have a nice time. Richard Rodney Bennett

Music Time Nice Write Wanted Cook Play Cards

Bear in mind that you are not making music for your own pleasure, but for the pleasure of your audience. Richard Strauss

Music You Mind Own Pleasure Bear Audience Making Your

Wherever the fish are, that's where we go. Richard Wagner

Fish Go Where Wherever

I am fond of them, of the inferior beings of the abyss, of those who are full of longing. Richard Wagner

Abyss Longing Those Fond Am Inferior Them Full Who Beings

I wish I could score everything for horns. Richard Wagner

Wish Everything Horns Could Score

Life is earnest - and always has been. Richard Wagner

Life Earnest Has-Been Always Been

Though German art can never be Bavarian, but simply German, yet Munich is the capital of this German Art; here, under shelter of a Prince who kindles my enthusiasm, to feel myself a native and member of the people was, to me, the homeless wanderer, a deep, a genuine need. Richard Wagner

Here, everything is tragic through and through, and the will, that fain would shape a world according to its wish, at last can reach no greater satisfaction than the breaking of itself in dignified annulment. Richard Wagner

World Will Wish Dignified Everything Would Through Shape Fain Reach Greater Tragic According Itself Than Breaking Satisfaction Here Last

How absurd these critics must seem to me, who in their modern wantonness have become so ingenious. They want to interpret my Tannhauser as specifically Christian and impute to him a tendency to impotent glorification! Richard Wagner

Me Become Christian Must Critics Seem Tendency Absurd Him Glorification How Modern Want Ingenious Who Specifically Interpret

I was interested in opera and it seemed to me that the only possible theatre for contemporary opera would be television. So I started working towards a kind of television kind of opera. Robert Ashley

Me Theatre Television Possible Kind Would Would-Be Seemed Only Towards Contemporary Opera Interested Working Started

I feel so entirely in my element with a full orchestra; even if my mortal enemies were marshalled before me, I could lead them, master them, surround them, or repulse them. Robert Schumann

Me Enemies Master Before Entirely Could Lead Mortal Feel Were Surround Orchestra Them Full Even Element

Mendelssohn I consider the first musician of the day; I doff my hat to him as my superior. He plays with everything, especially with the grouping of the instruments in the orchestra, but with such ease, delicacy and art, with such mastery throughout. Robert Schumann

Art Day Superior First Consider Everything Ease Musician Hat Delicacy Throughout He Him Instruments Mastery Orchestra Grouping Plays

The flame that is naturally clear always gives the most light and heat. If I could blend my talent for poetry and music into one, the light would burn still clearer, and I might go far. Robert Schumann

Believe me, were I ever to accomplish anything, it would be in music, which has always attracted me; and, without overestimating myself, I am conscious of possessing a certain creative faculty. Robert Schumann

I sometimes lack confidence in public, although I am proud enough inwardly. Robert Schumann

Confidence Sometimes Enough Inwardly Although Proud Am Lack Public

I was a God-fearing child, innocent and physically attractive. Robert Schumann

Innocent Physically Attractive Child