Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes — Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table. — Johannes Brahms
I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer. — Johannes Brahms
Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. — Johannes Brahms