Hans von Bülow (1830-1894) was a virtuoso conductor and pianist. He was, at first, an acolyte to Richard Wagner, and then a standard-bearer to Brahms.
Bülow’s most famous incident while in Italy was an exchange he had with a drummer at a rehearsal of the Ninth Symphony of Beetoven. The unfortunate man could not get the rhythm of the solo in a Scherzo. After various attempts—
“What is your instrument called?” Bülow asked?
“Tympani,” said the drummer
As if the very word explained everything, Bülow repeated it carefully. “There you have it. Tӯmpãnī! Tӯmpãnī!”
The drummer finally grasped the rhythm and triumphantly smacked his drums as loud as possible.
“Forte!” shouted Bülow.
In response, the drummer put more force into it.
“FORTE!!” Bülow shouted louder.
The drummer pounded even harder and nearly burst the vellum stretched across the drums.
In great frustration, Bülow finally shouted, “FORTE!!! Not fortissimo!”
Bülow’s most famous incident while in Italy was an exchange he had with a drummer at a rehearsal of the Ninth Symphony of Beetoven. The unfortunate man could not get the rhythm of the solo in a Scherzo. After various attempts—
“What is your instrument called?” Bülow asked?
“Tympani,” said the drummer
As if the very word explained everything, Bülow repeated it carefully. “There you have it. Tӯmpãnī! Tӯmpãnī!”
The drummer finally grasped the rhythm and triumphantly smacked his drums as loud as possible.
“Forte!” shouted Bülow.
In response, the drummer put more force into it.
“FORTE!!” Bülow shouted louder.
The drummer pounded even harder and nearly burst the vellum stretched across the drums.
In great frustration, Bülow finally shouted, “FORTE!!! Not fortissimo!”
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