40+ Thomas Beecham Quotes On Education, Thomas Jefferson And Elegant

Thomas Beecham was an English composer and conductor who lived from 1879 to 1961. He was known for his innovative programming and enthusiasm for music from the Baroque period, as well as his own compositions. He founded the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932 and was knighted in 1936 for his services to music. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Thomas Beecham on education, life, leadership.

Top 10 Thomas Beecham Quotes

1. The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought.
2. Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.
3. Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.
4. The sound of a harpsichord - two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm.
5. Her singing reminds me of a cart coming downhill with the brake on.
6. I find brass bands have a melancholy sound. All right out of doors, of course - fifty miles away. Like bagpipes, they turn what had been a dream into a public nuisance.
7. The sound of the harpsichord resembles that of a bird-cage played with toasting-forks.
8. If an opera cannot be played by an organ grinder, it's not going to achieve immortality.
9. At a rehearsal I let the orchestra play as they like. At the concert I make them play as I like.
10. 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.

Thomas Beecham Short Quotes

• The bagpipes sound exactly the same when you have finished as when you started
• Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.
• All the arts in America are a gigantic racket run by unscrupulous men for unhealthy women.
• No operatic star has yet died soon enough for me.
• They are quite hopeless - drooling, driveling, doleful, depressing, dropsical drips.
• There are no woman composers, never have been and possibly never will be.
• The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.
• No woman is worth the loss of a night's sleep.
• I prefer Offenbach to Bach often.
• "Have you heard any Stockhausen?" Beecham was asked. "No, but I believe I have stepped in some."

Thomas Beecham Quotes About Music

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

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

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

Magical music never leaves the memory. — Thomas Beecham

Movie music is noise... even more painful than my sciatica. — Thomas Beecham

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

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

Without question the most unpopular medium of musical sound in the world. — 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 will upset me. — Thomas Beecham

Thomas Beecham Famous Quotes And Sayings

A soprano in Massenet's Don Quixote complained that she had missed her entry in the aria, "because Mr. Challiapin always dies too soon." "Madam, you must be profoundly in error," said Sir Thomas, "No operatic star has yet died half soon enough for me." — Thomas Beecham

If I were a dictator I should make it compulsory for every member of the population between the ages of four and eighty to listen to Mozart for at least a quarter of an hour daily for the coming five years. — Thomas Beecham

What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about. — Thomas Beecham

A musicologist is a man who can read music but can't hear it. — Thomas Beecham

I have just been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of it. — Thomas Beecham

As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands? — Thomas Beecham

When asked whether he minded if someone smoked in a non-smoking compartment. Certainly not if you don't object if I'm sick. — Thomas Beecham

Too much counterpoint; what is worse, Protestant counterpoint. — Thomas Beecham

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

If she is attractive, I can't perform with her; if she is not, then I won't. — Thomas Beecham

Life Lessons by Thomas Beecham

1. Thomas Beecham's work demonstrates the importance of taking risks and pushing boundaries in order to create something unique and inspiring.
2. His compositions are a reminder that experimentation and collaboration are key to producing great art.
3. His influence on the classical music world is a testament to the power of dedication and hard work in achieving success.