Lou Harrison's Acceptance

"Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. I'm very sorry not to be present physically with you. But I am happy to be present in this form and to receive the distinguished award which is being offered me so kindly. And I want to say that the goals of the man in whose name it is given were those of my own as well. And I've always thought that gentleness and truthfulness and honesty are the best policy. And honesty tempered by courtesy goes a long way, even in semi-hostile surroundings. And I think we've all experienced that. Less so I think today, and I think we can all rejoice in the progress that we've made for the young people. They have less trouble, I think, than we had. And heaven knows that is a wonderful achievement on an historical ground. As for my own work, I am very happy that it is being well received and I enjoyed doing it with my partner, Mr. William Colvig who has helped me to make most of my large works and who is a musician, an instrument builder and a courageous artist.

"It is important to me to leave a work of art of music, serious classic music, on an overtly gay theme. Not as suggested as in the Britten opera. . . I'm talking about Mann's Story [Death in Venice] but an overt scene, historically founded as the real thing. I think that's important and it is that that I am working on now."