Harrison Birtwistle

There are rhythmic ideas which sometimes only work up to a point. In writing there are moments when it just comes off the page, it's not just a collection of notes.

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

When I dealt with set theory, I could never make it be the music that I wanted.

I like villains because there's something so attractive about a committed person - they have a plan, an ideology, no matter how twisted. They're motivated.

I like involved projects. I'm driven by the idea of characters and the song-cycle form is similar to a musical.

I just had an idea that went right over my head.