Author: Harrison Birtwistle

Quotes

People say my music is English. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's not me writing English music, but that English music is becoming more like me.

People say my music is English. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's not me writing English music, but that English music is becoming more like me.

- Harrison Birtwistle

When I was confronted with official tuition, the academic thing, I could see no relationship whatever between that and the music I'd been writing since I was 11.

When I was confronted with official tuition, the academic thing, I could see no relationship whatever between that and the music I'd been writing since I was 11.

- Harrison Birtwistle

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

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

- Harrison Birtwistle

Music is such a problem in the time it takes.

Music is such a problem in the time it takes.

- Harrison Birtwistle

My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!

My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!

- Harrison Birtwistle

I think music has gone through a period of something very severe, rather radical, rather the way painting did with cubism.

I think music has gone through a period of something very severe, rather radical, rather the way painting did with cubism.

- Harrison Birtwistle

This sounds horribly pretentious, but I like to think that if music hadn't existed, I could have invented it.

This sounds horribly pretentious, but I like to think that if music hadn't existed, I could have invented it.

- Harrison Birtwistle

I'm not a music lover in the sense that I look for something to have on. I've never had that attitude to music.

I'm not a music lover in the sense that I look for something to have on. I've never had that attitude to music.

- Harrison Birtwistle

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

- Harrison Birtwistle

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