we went over everything : piano technique , interpretation , fingering skills , buddhism , harmonic analysis , gurdjieff , counterpoint , esoterism , science fiction , orchestration , art history , folkloreall of it intermixed with musical anecdotes , gossip about the star dancers and ballerinas he worked with ; mystical considerations , which all led right back to music with a capital m : center of the world , center of the universe , which throughout all his vicissitudes remained ever his great passion .