When I speak of cycles, I am referring to lengthy intervals of relative homogeneity, if not in the resolving of problems, than at least with respect to the consistency of their capacity to productively irritate. – Brian Ferneyhough
Questioning the nature and implications of liminal instances necessarily involves failure, if only in the specifically technical sense of entering spaces where prevailing criteria of success scarcely apply. – Brian Ferneyhough
When I left Europe in 1987 I did so with the thought that my relevance as a composition teacher would benefit from a certain cool distance to certain tendencies I had been observing for several years with increasing disquiet. – Brian Ferneyhough
With respect to the respective French and German traditions you are no doubt correct, although I am reluctant to see individual achievement reduced to archetypes. – Brian Ferneyhough
When you have fans who are hassling you the entire game and you ignore them, they respect you because their job is to try and distract you. And if they dont distract you, that means youre focused on doing your job. And who knows, by the end, sometimes you even win them over. – Robert Griffin III