Traditional Melodies Quotes

Hawaiian music is beautiful and simple.

Hymn tunes are the nearest we've got to English folk music.

For me, there's a lot of intrinsic mystery and power in folk music, but a lot of people don't perceive that music from around the world as something that fits into their lives or their psyche in any way. So I tried to present it in a different way to give it more of a chance to sink into people's heads.

When writing music for the 'Kaddish,' I evoked the prayers that were sung in Eastern Galicia, Ukraine and Romania. I was advised by my late friend, Boris Carmeli... He would sing me various melodies that were sung by his grandfather, thus they had to be at least as old as the mid-19th century.

All my songs are based on melody, which is retrieved from my Jewish heritage. Melody will always exist no matter what the rhythmic changes there are.

I've always loved mixing Middle Eastern instruments into a classical orchestra.

I feel there is a song for every occasion, and India is a land full of music.

One of the things that is wonderful about hymns is that they are a sort of universally shared poetry, at least among certain populations.

The reason most folksongs are so atrocious is that they were written by the people.

Northeastern folk music influenced me from a very young age. Sachin Dev Burman is one of the inspirational musicians in Indian film music. The way he fused folk music with his signature style is amazing. So, I am aware of the beauty of northeast folk music.

The lullabies I grew up with were usually Brazilian religious ones, and they still soothe me into sleep.