Matter Works Quotes by Virgil Thomson

I don't have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works.

— Virgil Thomson

I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the discipline of spontaneity, which he…

— Virgil Thomson

Every composer's music reflects in its subject-matter and in its style the source of the money the composer is living on while writing the…

— Virgil Thomson

I let her alone and when she got that finished she left me alone. We trusted each other.

— Virgil Thomson

I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization…

— Virgil Thomson

In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

— Virgil Thomson

I listened to the pure crystalline notes of one of Mozart's concertos dropping at my feet like leaves from the trees.

— Virgil Thomson

I don't care what other critics say, I only hope to be played.

— Virgil Thomson

I seem to write an opera about every 20 years; if you live long enough you can write four operas. I finished my third in 1970.

— Virgil Thomson

Musicians own music because music owns them.

— Virgil Thomson

Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

— Virgil Thomson

Verbal communication about music is impossible except among musicians.

— Virgil Thomson