hiː ɹᵻɡˈɑːɹdᵻd ðɪs æz ɐn ɐdvˈæntɪdʒ, nˌɑːt ˈoʊnli bɪkˈʌz hiː ɹᵻzˈɛntᵻd ðə wˈɜːk ɪnvˈɑːlvd ɪn pɹɪpˈɛɹɪŋ fɔːɹ pɚfˈoːɹməns æz ɐ dɪstɹˈækʃən fɹʌm kəmpˈoʊzɪŋ ɪtsˈɛlf, bˌʌt ˈɔːlsoʊ bɪkˈʌz hiː wʌz ɐkjˈuːtli ʃˈaɪ ænd hˈeɪɾᵻd bˌiːɪŋ pɹˈɛzənt wɛn hɪz mjˈuːzɪk wʌz pɚfˈɔːɹmd.
He regarded this as an advantage, not only because he resented the work involved in preparing for performance as a distraction from composing itself, but also because he was acutely shy and hated being present when his music was performed.