My own goals center around writing the best music that I can, and only I can determine whether or not I've succeeded in accomplishing that. Michael Hersch More Quotes by Michael Hersch More Quotes From Michael Hersch A critic can serve as guide. I think there's an understanding amongst the public that critics have their own preferences and dislikes. Michael Hersch preference understanding thinking I don't think the role of the critic has changed very much. In the most positive sense, the music critic is one who helps the public navigate what's out there, especially in bringing attention to things they otherwise wouldn't hear about, or to provide a new window into something familiar. Michael Hersch roles attention thinking The American new music scene is remarkably vibrant. Michael Hersch new-music scene George Rochberg once said that 'to be a composer, you need to have fire in the belly, fire in the brain, but most importantly, an iron stomach.' I feel this is for the most part true, and hope I might convey something of it to younger composers. Michael Hersch iron fire brain The proliferation of new music groups and individual performers focusing on new music today is heartening. On the one hand the culture is very resistant to new things, and yet it continues to change and grow. Michael Hersch groups culture hands The best results come when people believe in and feel strongly about the music they are playing. Just as composers write for certain types of performers, performers are also looking for certain things. Michael Hersch writing believe people I was fortunate to work with Corigliano for a few years in the mid nineties. Meeting and working with him during those formative years was an important experience. Michael Hersch meetings important years The work of Liszt I most admire is the music he wrote toward the end of his life. This is often music of tremendous inventiveness. The music seems to be seeking something. It tends to be restless, unpredictable, often very sad. Michael Hersch restless very-sad ends As a young composer I had a particular fondness for Liszt's Beethoven Symphony arrangements for the piano, and to this day I enjoy playing non-piano music at the piano. Michael Hersch piano symphony young I enjoy the challenge of taking something which was not meant for the piano, distilling its essence and writing or improvising it for/at the piano, but having the listener forget that he or she is listening to a piano. Michael Hersch piano essence writing The musical culture in the United States has no doubt suffered severe setbacks, especially in funding, since the early 2000's. However, I've been amazed at the resiliency of those involved with contemporary music in this country. I think composers and those dedicated to contemporary music have reacted with tremendous creativity and resourcefulness. Michael Hersch creativity country thinking
