7 Thomas Beecham Quotes on Humor

Thomas Beecham quotes on humor

2. Asked if he had ever conducted any Stockhausen, he said, 'No, but I once trod in some.'

17. On Beethoven's Seventh Symphony: 'What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.'

18. 'Try everything once except folk dancing and incest'. (This is also attributed to Sir Arnold Bax, George S. Kaufman, Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill.)

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

21. 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.'

22. On a grave stone is written: 'Here lies a fantastic organist and an excellent musician.' [Beecham then comments...] 'What, both in the same grave?'

24. In the first movement alone, I took note of six pregnancies and at least four miscarriages.