Ernest Newman Quotes

A good composer is slowly discovered and a bad composer is slowly found out.

For my part, if I had the power I would insist on all oratorios being sung in the costume of the period – with a possible exception in the case of the Creation.

The great-at-anything do not set to work because they are inspired, but rather become inspired because they are working. They don’t waste time waiting for inspiration.

I had no idea Stravinsky disliked Debussy so much as this.

The finest singing, given a good voice to begin with, comes from the constant play of a fine mind upon the inner meaning of the music.

The greatest composer does not sit down to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.

The higher the voice the smaller the intellect.

The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn’t waste time waiting for inspiration.

You may help a lame dog over a stile but he is still a lame dog on the other side.

Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand. They didn’t waste time waiting for inspiration.

Jazz is not a ‘form’ but a collection of tags and tricks.