Johannes Brahms

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.

The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.