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,…

— 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…

— 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…

— 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…

— 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

Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

— Virgil Thomson

The description and explanation is the best part of music reviewing. There is such a thing, and you know it too, as…

— Virgil Thomson

I look at you and I write down what I hear.

— Virgil Thomson

I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.

— Virgil Thomson

A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen bya man who should never…

— Virgil Thomson

I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not…

— Virgil Thomson

You explain how it went, and as far as you can figure out how it got that way.

— Virgil Thomson

Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about,…

— Virgil Thomson

I don't go around regretting things that don't happen.

— Virgil Thomson

The way to write American music is simple. All you have to do is be an American and then write any kind…

— Virgil Thomson

I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Music itself is not going to let you down.

— Virgil Thomson