Friends and Memories

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

373

text excerpt

I wrote the incidental music for The Medicine Man, a play by Mr. Traill and Robert Hichens, which was produced at the Lyceum, and I saw a good deal of Sir Henry during that time. His kindness and courtesy were unfailing, and it was a real pleasure to have anything to do with him. But oh, what agonies it is to write incidental music for a play! At every instant the orchestra was stopped and some one would say, even if they were playing pianissimo -

“We can’t hear ourselves speak. Please take out all the wind instruments and put mutes on the violins.”

No sooner had this been done than another objection was raised.

“Heavens ! How dull it sounds ! Isn’t something wanting ?”

I felt inclined to rush out and say -

“Look here, if some one cut off your noses, and pulled out your teeth, all of you would also he rather less good-looking than you are now !”

excerpt from 'Friends and Memories' pp. 373 (169 words)

1452342667168:

1452342667168