Evening star., 1943-05-09
Music
Beecham Adds New
Talent to Already
Impressive List
By Alice Eversman.

The long list OF talents which Sir
Thomas Beecham has disclosed in
his career, and which has made him
a famous and popular figure in the
musical life of two continents. has
been rounded out by that of auto
biographer of the most entertaining
sort. In his recent book, "A Min
gled Chime" published by G. P.
Puunam's Sons, New York, he proves
himself, not only raconteur of the
first rank, but writer with mas
terly command of style. He has
achieved, moreover, something new
in autobiographies by telling little
of his private affairs. confining him
self only to his activities that had
to do with the progress OF the music
life Of his country.
The book, therefore, reveals more
Of his personality and his intellect
than of his life While thoroughly
man of the world. he is also shown
as scholar, widely read, retaining
and applying all that he has learned
from other arts to his great pas
sion, music. This gives to his liter
ary style a somewhat bOmbaStic
color, but his fine wit and keen un-
derstanding of men and affairs make
for the most delightful reading, and
for pure entertainment, as well as
a remarkable record of A life'S ac-
compliShment, it is by far the most
outstanding book of this character
to appear in some time.
Two Ambitions.
Sir Thomas writes modeStly when
epeaklng of himself and passes over
his efforts in light fashion. The
conditions in various portions of
England when he first began his
musical endeavors. his gradual prog
resS from sort of dilettantism to a
professional status and the people
ne associated with are all PORTRAYED
with vivldneSs, charm and humor
At the outset, he had two major
ambitions. both of which came to
nothing His hopes for a pianistic
career were wrecked by an ann in
jury. and his dream of becoming an
operate composer was laid aside
when he realized his inadcquacy in
this form. The direction which his
career was to take was induced prln-
Cjnallv by two things. the counsel Of
Frederick DelluS. whose influence on
his life Sir Thomas frcclv admits.
and the finding of three horseshOes
at the moment when he decision
as to forming an orchestra hung in
the balance
Because Of the horscShoes.
Beecham had an orchestra 10 di-
rec, and that his native ability for
that work was continually cmpha-
lied later by DelIus Spurred hlm on
10 greater efforts While his love
for the theater never abatod and re-
suited in some Of the most brilliant
seasons London has ever known. he
was able. through his orchestral con-
Gucting, TO introduce many COM
poSers and their works to tho public
Of England and eventually TO the
world at large.
Important contributions.
His account OF how all this va
accomplished mingled with the
amusing incidents that occurred
when Strauss "Salome' was first
produced ard the Lord Oh mber-
laln and his assistant Sir Douglas
Dawson, iabored to cXpurgate the
teTt for Fn2llsh consumption. the
temperamnn:al outburSt, OF artists.
the search IN Paris for a man to
play the unknown Sarrusophone.
which 2 composer insisted was need
ed to give color to his work. makes
the cheeriest kind of reading
Through it all. the important con-
trlbutiOnS which ReeCham has made
to the musical life Of this Centurv
thr0uGh the performances al COvent
Garden, the famous singers engaged.
the Russian opera and ballet. the
growth OF his orchestra and the dis
Covery of new composers. especially
of his own nationality. form an I'M
preSsive history of brllllanCv. the
effect of which is still to be felt;