Henry Mancini

The man who writes for hire has an obligation, if only to himself, to keep an open mind and to absorb new…

— Henry Mancini

I'm usually the last man on the totem pole. Except for the sound effects and the final sound mix, the score is…

— Henry Mancini

Most people are oriented to words. When the public hears a melody, unless you put words to It, it takes longer to…

— Henry Mancini

Stravinsky influenced film music in general - those stabbing chords and rhythms from 'The Rite of Spring.'

— Henry Mancini

The Pavarotti and Galway albums were a lot of fun because I got to work with two of the best 'voices' in…

— Henry Mancini

It's very difficult to be funny musically. I think I achieved It with 'The Pink Panther.'

— Henry Mancini

I don't like to surprise anyone with the music I compose for a film. That way, there is less trouble later on.

— Henry Mancini

In times of stress, I frequently remind myself that I'm doing what I want to do most and that's what really counts.

— Henry Mancini

You know, directors are funny people. They live with these movies for a year or more. And when you go in to…

— Henry Mancini

I used to be selected for the Pennsylvania all-state orchestra. It was a thrill to go from my home town of Aliquippa…

— Henry Mancini

Quite a few of The Rolling Stones records have had a great honesty about them. In fact, I would put them side-by-side…

— Henry Mancini

Some of the prettiest music I've done was in films that really were not a smash. Your music fares as the film…

— Henry Mancini

Well, I thought the opening of 'Hatari!' was pretty good. And 'The Pink Panther' wasn't half bad either.

— Henry Mancini

Music has been taken over in this country by personalities and dominated by rock 'n' roll. There's been a synthesizer invasion and…

— Henry Mancini

Writing music is very, very clinical. You just sit down at a piano, map out a theme and when all the technicalities…

— Henry Mancini

Technique is superficial. The method used in applying technique is what gives music its character.

— Henry Mancini

Getting married in 1947 and settling down in Hollywood was the real beginning of my career.

— Henry Mancini

I don't usually take a picture if I don't like it. I have that choice. But some pictures I like more than…

— Henry Mancini

Some people say 'flutist.' Others say 'flautist.' I just say 'flute player.' That's what I was.

— Henry Mancini

I'm no songwriter because all of my popular songs have just been outgrowths of themes for the various pictures.

— Henry Mancini

Writing for TV or films isn't great art. You have to have a common denominator. It's up to the composer to make…

— Henry Mancini

When I play 'Newhart' in concert, it always gets a hand, right from the very beginning. To me, 'Newhart' is a hit.

— Henry Mancini

Some scenes cry out for a certain kind of treatment. The kind we're conditioned by years of film-watching to expect.

— Henry Mancini

I don't want to get corny, but my career really has been the personification of the American dream.

— Henry Mancini