The whole path of American ... by Michael Tilson Thomas, an American Musician

Michael Tilson Thomas Quotes

“The whole path of American music has been so much about the recognition of stylistic diversity, and the recognition of the importance of music which was from one of the vernacular traditions.”

52% of people like this quote

Michael Tilson Thomas

Author details

Name: Michael Tilson Thomas

Nationality: American

Date of Birth: Dec 21, 1944

Profession: Musician

Other Michael Tilson Thomas Quotes

When I first was conducting as guest conductor in Europe 25 years ago, I would propose doing American pieces and grudgingly it would be accepted from time to time.

Michael Tilson Thomas

65% of people like this quote

I think music needs to be presented in a way so that kids can grasp songs, dances, simple music that's associated with some particular defining moment in human experience.

Michael Tilson Thomas

63% of people like this quote

But you know in the contemporary art world, you pose a very interesting conundrum. All sorts of people collect very contemporary art, yet when it comes to the music which is analogous to that sort of art, they are not interested, or perhaps even hostile.

Michael Tilson Thomas

59% of people like this quote

And what classical music does best and must always do more, is to show this kind of transformation of moods, to show a very wide psychological voyage. And I think that's something that we as classical musicians have underestimated.

Michael Tilson Thomas

59% of people like this quote

In earlier times, so many people sang much more. You know as a kid you'd go to some kind of religious training and or summer camp or whatever it was and you'd learn to sing a lot of songs.

Michael Tilson Thomas

59% of people like this quote

View all Michael Tilson Thomas quotes