"I didn't have a record player"

Harrison Birtwistle's quote "I didn't have a record player" can be interpreted in a few different ways. On an actual level, it could imply that he did not own a record gamer, and therefore was unable to listen to records. On a much deeper level, it might be translated as a metaphor for his absence of access to music and culture. Growing up in a village in the 1950s, he may not have had access to the same resources as those living in larger cities. This quote could also be interpreted as a reflection on his own musical journey. He might have felt that he was not able to access the exact same music as others, and hence was unable to establish his own musical style. Whatever the analysis, this quote talks to the power of music and how it can form our lives.