One thing I've tried to do in writing music is take on very basic things, very archetypal things.

When I was confronted with official tuition, the academic thing, I could see no relationship whatever between that and the music I'd been writing since I was 11.

Minimalism now is a reaction to what came before. It's absolutely of its time. Music moved into the set theory thing, and moved out of it.

People say my music is English. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's not me writing English music, but that English music is becoming more like me.

The thing about influence is that any composer worth anything will give you the same names.

I don't think there is much American music.