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

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

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