Thomas Beecham Quotes on Humor
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Asked if he had ever conducted any Stockhausen, he said, 'No, but I once trod in some.'
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On Beethoven's Seventh Symphony: 'What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.'
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'Try everything once except folk dancing and incest'. (This is also attributed to Sir Arnold Bax, George S. Kaufman, Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill.)
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'Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away'.
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After conducting an orchestra through a piece of music - 'Bass Trombone, you are out of tune.' [a voice comes from the orchestra saying] 'Sir, the bass trombonist hasn't arrived yet.' [To which Beecham replied] 'Oh... well when he arrives, tell him he's out of tune.'
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On a grave stone is written: 'Here lies a fantastic organist and an excellent musician.' [Beecham then comments...] 'What, both in the same grave?'
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In the first movement alone, I took note of six pregnancies and at least four miscarriages.