She will never learn the most necessary, most difficult and principal thing in music, that is time, because from childhood she has designedly cultiva… - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The golden mean, the truth, is no longer recognized or valued. To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it, or so incomprehensible that it pleases simply because no sensible man can comprehend it.

Melody is the essence of music. I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpointists to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let well alone and remember the old Italian proverb: Chi sa più, meno sa — Who knows most, knows least.

If a passage occurs twice it is played slower the second time; if three times, still slower.