What is the relationship between text and music in your compositions?

Dominick Argento: “The music is essentially a reflection of the emotional response evoked in me by the text–its meaning, its beauty, its insights, its ironies, its timidity, its vulgarity, etc. etc. etc. The music attempts to force the listener (and performer) to share my point of view about the text.”

From: Palmer, Virginia. “Composer Survey: Opinions on Solo Vocal Literature.” Perspectives of New Music 22, No. 1/2 (Autumn 1983-Summer 1984): 631-638.