Thomas Beecham Quotes
- The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.
- There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between.
- Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.
- Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory.
- A musicologist is a man who can read music but cannot hear it.
- When asked whether he minded if someone smoked in a non-smoking compartment. Certainly not if you don't object if I'm sick.
- Beethoven's last quartets were written by a deaf man and should only be listened to by a deaf man.
- I have just been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of it.
- It is quite untrue that British people don't appreciate music. They may not understand it but they absolutely love the noise it makes.
- Movie music is noise. It's even more painful than my sciatica.
- Composers and musicians have always starved and, as this is a sentimental country, we think the tradition should be continued.
- The sound of a harpsichord - two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm.
- In the first movement alone, I took note of six pregnancies and at least four miscarriages.
- What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.
- Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.
- We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again.
- Her singing reminds me of a cart coming downhill with the brake on.
- Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.
- Too much counterpoint; what is worse, Protestant counterpoint.
- The grand tune is the only thing in music that the great public really understands.