University of Virginia Library

Orchestra Terrifying

Remarkably enough, he
insists that his most terrifying
experience was not swinging in
the high trapeze but playing
the triangle with the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Musicians have this way of
commending each other for a
good performance. They
shuffle their feet. When I
struck the triangle properly I
could see all these feet
shuffling. Sometimes, none of
the feet would shuffle."

"These people are under
great tension. Music is an art.
You can't make a mistake.
There is as much tension in an
orchestra's dressing room as in
a Green Bay locker room."