For me, it is a matter of course to write music for young instrumentalists from time to time. Firstly, I'm always being asked about it, and secondly, it's important to me to get in touch with the instrumentalists and music listeners of tomorrow. There is no question that it is particularly difficult to invent something challenging within a certain "limitation" if it is to go beyond the academic and dry "pedagogical". Above all, however, it is of great importance that potential composers familiarise themselves with the mentality of young players, recognise their general open-mindedness to engage with the music of their time and make the resulting insights fruitful in terms of composition with serious commitment. They would be in good company here. Bach, Mozart, Schumann and Bartók, to name but a few, were not too "good" for this task.

Bertold Hummel 1976 (NMZ 5/76)