Virgil Thomson Quotes

• Musicians own music because music owns them.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Own

• The way to write American music is simple. All you have to do is be an American and then write any kind of music you wish.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

• A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen by a man who should never have attempted it.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

• I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Music, Never, Know

• I let her alone and when she got that finished she left me alone. We trusted each other.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Trust

  Tags in Finishing

• Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Mind

• I look at you and I write down what I hear.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Write, Look

• I don’t go around regretting things that don’t happen.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Around

• You explain how it went, and as far as you can figure out how it got that way.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Figure, Went

• I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization whenever you can.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Whenever, Whole

• I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Starve, Food

• Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It’s nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Writing

• Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Figure, Like

• In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Learn

• I don’t care what other critics say, I only hope to be played.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Care, Other

• I don’t have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works.

  Virgil Thomson

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Worry

Virgil Thomson (16)

Birth:	25th November, 1896
Death:	30th September, 1989
Nationality:	American
Profession:	Composer, Critic

About

Virgil Thomson was an American composer and critic. He was instrumental in the development of the "American Sound" in classical music.

Related Authors

• Gordon Parks
• William Kraft
• Don Ellis
• Fred Frith
• Craig Armstrong
• Claude Debussy
• Irving Berlin
• Marc Ribot
• Cy Coleman
• Jim Steinman

Advertisement

Today's Anniversary - 7th December

Births

• 1892 - Stuart Davis
• 1863 - Pietro Mascagni
• 1823 - Leopold Kronecker
• 1949 - Tom Waits
• 1960 - Matthew Shipp

Deaths

• 1975 - Thornton Wilder
• 1985 - Robert Graves
• 1817 - William Bligh
• 1997 - Barry Brooks
• 1902 - Thomas Brackett Reed