Opera is all about saying goodbye, Virgil Thomson is reputed to have said, and ballet is all about saying hello.

Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

I look at you and I write down what I hear.

Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.

I don't have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works.

I don't care what other critics say, I only hope to be played.

I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization whenever you can. 

You explain how it went, and as far as you can figure out how it got that way.

Musicians own music because music owns them.

Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing.

I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down. 

― Virgil Thomson