In my view, the composer, just as the poet, the sculptor or the painter, is in duty bound to serve Man, the people. He must beautify life and defe…

- Sergei Prokofiev

My mother had to explain that one couldnt compose a Liszt rhapsody because it was a piece of music that Liszt himself had composed.

- Sergei Prokofiev

I want nothing better, more flexible or more complete than the sonata form, which contains everything necessary for my structural purposes.

- Sergei Prokofiev

There are still so many beautiful things to be said in C major.

- Sergei Prokofiev

I have never doubted the importance of melody. I like melody very much, and I consider it the most important element in music, and I labour many year…

- Sergei Prokofiev

I strenuously object to the very word "grotesque" which has become hackneyed to the point of nausea...I would prefer my music to be described as "Sch…

- Sergei Prokofiev

When the Second World War broke out, I felt that everyone must do his share, and I began composing songs and marches for the front. But soon events a…

- Sergei Prokofiev

Of course I have used dissonance in my time, but there has been too much dissonance. Bach used dissonance as good salt for his music. Others applied …

- Sergei Prokofiev

My chief virtue (or if you like, defect) has been a tireless lifelong search for an original, individual musical idiom. I detest imitation, I detest …

- Sergei Prokofiev