What is American music? The most satisfying answer I've come across is that it was a kind of natural comfort with the vernacular which is diverse and regional; it's not one particular set of sounds. Carlisle Floyd americananswercomfort Change image and share on social
Like any other composer of opera, I choose a subject not for polemical reasons, but because it contains vivid characters in highly charged dramatic situations. Carlisle Floyd characterchargechoose Change image and share on social
I was encouraged by my mother and, to a lesser extent, by my father. Carlisle Floyd encourageextentfather Change image and share on social
I've never set out consciously to write American music. I don't know what that would be unless the obvious Appalachian folk references. Carlisle Floyd americanappalachianconsciously Change image and share on social
The performances of my works in the last 10 years are probably equal to all the previous years put together. There are so many venues now and there is a completely new public for opera that's grown up outside of the traditional core opera public. Carlisle Floyd completelycoreequal share on social
I think anything that is expressed directly and as honestly as possible will last. Carlisle Floyd directlyexpresshonestly Change image and share on social
It's necessary to track characters all the way through an opera. If you're dealing with more than one or two characters, it's very easy to forget that the others have lives of their own that feed into the story. Carlisle Floyd characterdealeasy share on social
You can't possibly predict what will last or not. But once you attempt to write for the ages, you're doomed. Carlisle Floyd ageattemptdoom Change image and share on social
The artist is something of an outsider in America. I have always felt that America does not value its artists, certainly not in the sense that the Europeans do. Carlisle Floyd americaartisteuropean Change image and share on social
If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so. Carlisle Floyd feltopera Change image and share on social
