Harrison Birtwistle

“I wrote music as soon as I knew notation.”

“When I dealt with set theory, I could never make it be the music that I wanted.”

“I think there are influences that you open the door to, and influences that come under the door.”

“One thing I've tried to do in writing music is take on very basic things, very archetypal things.”

“Music is such a problem in the time it takes.”

“I don't think there is much American music.”

“The piece that had a large influence on me was Turangalila.”

“I didn't have a record player.”