Sensitive sense of hearing – Camille Saint-Saens

When he was a boy, the parents of famous French composer Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) took him to a concert. Before that, little Camille heard only single performances of piano and violin, but on that occasion he was listening a real symphony concert.

Later, in his memoires, Camille Saint-Saens wrote:

“The impression of the orchestra was entirely different and I listened with delight to a passage played by a quartet, when, suddenly, came a blast from the brass instruments—the trumpets, trombones and cymbals. I broke into loud cries, “Make them stop. They prevent my hearing the music.” They had to take me out.”