So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it and give it expressive meaning.

Inspiration may be a form of super-consciousness, orperhaps of subconsciousness—I wouldn’t know. But I amsure it is the antithesis of self-consciousness.

Most people seem to resent the controversial in music; they don’t want their listening habits disturbed. They use music as a couch; they want to be pillowed on it, relaxed and consoled for the stress...

To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.

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...

Listening to the Fifth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for 45 minutes.