Quotes by Violet Archer

“My desire to compose has always been so great from the beginning that I have never thought of just being a woman composer. I have always felt to be the equal of male composers. I am just as good as male composers. We are composers together.” - Women of Note February 1998

“I hope my music will not recede into the past. That is always the hope of the composer - not to be forgotten.” Women of Note February 1998

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“I can say that my music, being of my early style or of my middle and present style has been given positive reviews by the critics. However, I must say that I compose because I must, regardless of positive or critical reviews. I very much want to reach my audiences.” - Women of Note February 1998

“I think being a composer is a very exciting vocation, because each new project is a challenge. One continually meets different people, different artists. I'm very interested in people. I enjoy people. I don't feel I'm one of the ivory tower kind of people. I enjoy being with people and I can derive a lot of pleasure from meeting new people, as well as my current acquaintances. I like visiting new countries I've never visited before and seeing how things are over there you see.” - Violet Archer to Charles Foreman

“I'm so completely absorbed in composing, in the fact that I wanted to write - a continuous desire to write. It didn't occur to me that I should be looked down upon by the opposite sex. I was doing my own thing and writing music, because I wanted to write it. If it was published or performed, I would be very happy - Violet Archer. to Rosalynn Soo (1995)

“I don't like to be bogged down. That's why, I suppose, I have so many interests and I have to budget time for each of them. I am always, you might say, on the qui vive” - Violet Archer to Edmonton Journal October 8th 1971

“There is no question of my being a retired composer. The situation does not exist. A creative person goes on creating as long as they're alive.”  - Violet Archer to Lea Terrill