I Knew Even If I'm A Cowboy,

Over The Years I've Had Strong Friendships With Many Priests. As A Matter Of Fact, A Group Of Christian Leaders From The National Council Of Churches Came To My House In The 1950s To Ask Me To Write Music For A Mass. I Didn't Think I Was Ready At That Time. So, In A Sense, I Guess Joining The Church And Writing The Mass Was A Culmination Of A Long Journey That Is Still Going On.

I’m Beginning To Understand Myself. But It Would Have Been Great To Be Able To Understand Myself When I Was 20 Rather Than When I Was 82.

When I Was 20, Shostakovich Was My Favorite Composer. I Still Find His Fifth Symphony Wonderful, With Its Outstanding Themes And Rhythms. That's The Piece That Made Me Want To Be A Classical Composer.

The Source Of Inspiration Can Be Any Of The Things:deep Emotional Experiences - Say, Romantic Love Or Spiritual Contemplation.i Think Such Rare Moments Come Only When You Have Total Concentration. You Are Consumed In And By The Music. I Guess You Could Say That It Is Akin To Contemplation. In Order To Reach This Desirable State Of Mind You Have To Rise Above The Environment You're In At That Particular Time - A Bad Piano, Glaring Stage Lights, Or The Attitude Of The Audience. Sometimes The Inspiration Of The Other Musicians You're Playing With Helps You Reach This Stage.

Concord, California Was A Great Place To Grow Up.