“Clarinet n. An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments worse than a clarinet – two clarinets.”

“All music is what awakes within uswhen we are reminded by the instruments;It is not the violins or the clarinets -It is not the beating of the drums -Nor the score of the baritone singinghis sweet romanza; not that of the men's chorus,Nor that of the women's chorus -It is nearer and farther than they”

“I turned to the clarinets. They were a resourceful lot.”

“He was young and tall, his hair was the color of fresh corn, his fingers were as thick as cigars, and he had his clarinet with him.”

“I always imagined music trapped inside my clarinet, not trapped inside of me. But what if music is what escapes when a heart breaks?”

“Members of your family might say they are working hard all day long, while you are off at school or clarinet lessons, but the only way to know this for sure is to follow them at a discreet distance.”