I write bars, for the musicians, because they have to be together.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Musicians, Because, I Write, Bars
I was fifteen years old, and I hardly knew how to play a simple Bach prelude on the piano when I began to compose music, and at the most advanced level. I had never studied such things as harmony.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Harmony, Play, Advanced, Prelude
But I do not want to use Hungarian verses for British people.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Want, British, Use, Hungarian
There is a wonderful Hungarian literature, especially in lyric poetry.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Wonderful, Literature, Lyric, Hungarian
In my piano concerto I developed this polyphony to much higher complexity.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Piano, Complexity, Developed, Concerto
I lived under the Nazis and under the Communists.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Lived, Communists
My grandfather was not a musician but he was an artist - a painter, a decorative painter.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Grandfather, Artist, Painter, Decorative
Once, in London, the BBC asked me what was my favorite English book. I said Alice in Wonderland.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Book, London, BBC, Wonderland
When I was younger I was completely without money - when I was studying in Budapest, when I was a refugee.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Money, Studying, Younger, Refugee
In January 1944 I was called up by the Forced Labor Service, but I deserted on October 10, 1944.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Service, Forced, Deserted, January
Gesualdo was very important to me, I wanted to do something which corresponded to him.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Important, Very, Which, Corresponded
First of all I listen to music. I like music.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Music, Like, First, First Of All
Then, after the war it was impossible to travel, after so many years of Hitler and Stalin.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Impossible, So Many Years, Stalin
However, I began composing as soon as I started taking piano lessons.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Piano, However, Began, Lessons
I listen to all kinds of music - new music, old music, music of my colleagues, everything.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Music, New, Old Music, New Music
Stravinsky used Mother Goose. He was influenced by Mother Goose, indirectly, but very beautifully.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Mother, Goose, Very, Beautifully
I like to stay home and listen to recordings.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Listen, Stay, Like, Recordings
Well I live in Vienna with my wife and son, and I teach in Hamburg, there will be no changes in that respect.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Son, Wife, Will, Hamburg
I continued to study Math and Physics on my own, but one and a half years later I realized that I did want to be a composer, and after that I never changed my mind.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Mind, Study, Half, Physics
It isn't false modesty when I say this, but although I am supposed to be a famous person it doesn't mean anything to me. I just sit at home and work.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Work, Famous, Famous Person, Modesty
I think it was when I was nineteen, by that time the Jewish laws were already in force and the split was beginning to come about which isolated the Jewish culture.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Think, I Think, Which, Split
I think a composer is always interested in his last work.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Think, Always, I Think, Composer
New York is the dream world, the center of jazz and rock.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
World, Rock, New, York
For the past ten years I have had no financial problems.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Financial, Past, Had, Ten
If you come from Paris to Budapest you think you are in Moscow.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Think, Come, Moscow, Paris
But if you go from Moscow to Budapest you think you are in Paris.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Think, Go, Moscow, Paris
People often thought Leopold Auer was Russian because he lived in St. Petersburg so long, almost fifty years.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Thought, Fifty, Almost, Russian
I don't use old music.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Music, Old, Use, Old Music
I don't read such boring things. Life is too short.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Life Is Too Short, Boring, Boring Things
Yes, fractals are what I want to find in my music.
- Gyorgy Ligeti
Music, Want, Find, Yes
Loading more quotes...
If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.