Marvin hamlisch

Normally I can balance two or three things. The problem is when you're out of work and don't have anything to balance. I think people assume you're always busy. You go through dry spells.

You mustn't underestimate an audience's intelligence.

Many, many years ago, I was one of the few conductors who talked to the audience and now a lot of classical conductors have figured it out... otherwise, you just get the back of someone's head playing...

My whole thing is not just to play music for people, but to make them part of the evening.

I was always drawn to Broadway musicals, and obviously composers like Gershwin, Rodgers, Berlin and Porter were writing music that I found wildly impressive.

If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.'

The biggest thrill you can have is to tell people one of your songs, and have them be able to hum it.

I'm not one of those people who says, 'I never read reviews,' because I don't believe those people.

From the time I could play the piano, I remember trying to write tunes. They were in my head, and I would just sit down and start noodling. Next thing I knew, I had written a melody.

Let's say music is needed for only 43 seconds of film. You have to score it so it is an entity, so it won't bother anyone when it ends so quickly. Or if a song runs 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the...