Quotes by Famous Americans Past and Present
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Quotes by Famous Americans Past and Present
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John Philip Sousa Quotes Click here for John Philip Sousa books John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon "The office of President is a great one; to every true American it seems the greatest on earth. And to me, as I was engaged in weaving a background of music for the pageantry of it, there came a deeper realization of the effect of that office on the man." "Composers are the only people who can hear good music above bad sounds." "I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time." "No nation as young as America can be expected to become immediately a power in the arts." "Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains.” "I have always believed that 98% of a student's progress is due to his own efforts, and 2% to his teacher." "Any composer who is gloriously conscious that he is a composer must believe that he receives his inspiration from a source higher than himself." "I can almost always write music; at any hour of the twenty-four, if I put pencil to paper, music comes." "Anybody can write music of a sort. But touching the public heart is quite another thing." "From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else." "Governmental aid is a drawback rather than an assistance, as, although it may facilitate in the routine of artistic production, it is an impediment to the development of true artistic genius." "Grand opera is the most powerful of stage appeals and that almost entirely through the beauty of music." "My religion lies in my composition." "There is one thing that freezes a musician more than the deadliest physical cold, and that is the spiritual chill of an unresponsive audience!" "America can well expect to develop a goodly amount of composers for she has a goodly number of people." "I hope that, long after my marches have been forgotten, the clarion call of America which I tried to make the keynote of my compositions will continue to inspire her children with undying loyalty." "While we were still in San Francisco the Music Teachers' Association of California adopted a resolution petitioning Congress to make The Stars and Stripes Forever and Dixie the official airs of the United States. The idea did not appeal to me for, though Congress is a powerful body, it cannot make the people sing what they don't want to sing. If The Stars and Stripes Forever ever becomes a national air it will be because the people want it and not because of any congressional decree." "The American man, rising from his dinner and seeking diversion, may often be torn between two loves- the lure of a concert and the stronger lure of a hockey match or a track meet." |
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