Music Quotes by Thomas Beecham

Without question the most unpopular medium of musical sound in the world.

— Thomas Beecham

Composers and musicians have always starved and, as this is a sentimental country, we think the tradition should be continued.

— Thomas Beecham

I prefer Offenbach to Bach often.

— Thomas Beecham

The grand tune is the only thing in music that the great public really understands.

— Thomas Beecham

Beethoven's last quartets were written by a deaf man and should only be listened to by a deaf man.

— Thomas Beecham

A musicologist is a man who can read music but cannot hear it.

— Thomas Beecham

Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory.

— Thomas Beecham

Elgar's first symphony is the musical equivalent of St Pancras Railway Station.

— Thomas Beecham

Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.

— Thomas Beecham

Movie music is noise... even more painful than my sciatica.

— Thomas Beecham

The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.

— Thomas Beecham

Movie music is noise. It's even more painful than my sciatica.

— Thomas Beecham

It is quite untrue that British people don't appreciate music. They may not understand it but they absolutely love the noise it…

— Thomas Beecham

“The musical equivalent of St Pancras Station. (on Elgar)”

— Thomas Beecham

The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought.

— Thomas Beecham

The trouble with women in an orchestra is that if they're attractive it will upset my players and if they're not it…

— Thomas Beecham

Magical music never leaves the memory.

— Thomas Beecham

The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.

— Thomas Beecham

Music first and last should sound well, should allure and enchant the ear. Never mind the inner significance.

— Thomas Beecham