When Things Are Going Well, I Hate

Over The Years I've Had Strong Friendships With Many Priests. As A Matter Of Fact, A Group Of Christian Leaders From The National Council Of Churches Came To My House In The 1950s To Ask Me To Write Music For A Mass. I Didn't Think I Was Ready At That Time. So, In A Sense, I Guess Joining The Church And Writing The Mass Was A Culmination Of A Long Journey That Is Still Going On.

I Think The Church Should Strive To Give Parishioners Good Music. Music Is As Necessary For Worship As A Building With A Beautiful Altar, Artwork, And Stained-glass Windows. Together They Create An Environment Conducive To Worship And Contemplation. We Are Not In Church For Entertainment, But To Worship.

The Reality For Me Is Simple. When Music Is Written, It Is Usually Categorized As Classical. When It Is Improvised, It Can Still Be Called Classical If It Is An Inspired Improvisation. In Either Category, It Is Still Music, And It Can Be Good Or Bad Or Simply Mediocre.

The Use Of Rock, Folk, Or Pop Music Serves A Purpose. It Gets People Into The Church. But An Inexperienced Guitar Player Who Doesn't Have Much To Say, For Example, Can Make Me Wish To Leave The Church Immediately, Whereas One Great Jazz Or Classical Guitarist Can Confirm That I Will Have A Spiritual Experience In The Church.

If There's A Deadline, I Work Late. If Not, I Like To Have Normal Hours, And Get Up Early And Work. When Things Are Going Well, I Hate To Quit. And Then I'll Work 'till Exhausted.