19 Thomas Beecham Quotes on Music

Thomas Beecham quotes on music

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

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

3. Too much counterpoint; what is worse, Protestant counterpoint.

4. A musicologist is a man who can read music but can't hear it.

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

7. If I cannot sing a work, I cannot conduct it.

8. The musical equivalent of St. Pancras Station

10. No composer has written as much as 100 bars of worthwhile music since 1925.

11. It is said that in one rehearsal he was unsatisfied with the performance of a female cello soloist, and so said to her 'Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it!'.

13. 'Here are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between.'

14. When asked why only male composers appeared in his repertoire, he said 'There are no women composers, never have been, and possibly never will be' (however he later revised this view, and became a champion of Ethel Smyth's music)

15. He described the sound of the harpsichord variously as

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

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

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?'

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

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