I first heard some of Stravinsky's music as a schoolboy of eighteen, in the course of a concert at the old Colston Hall, Bristol on 15th February 1924. It was The Firebird suite conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham; and I remember sitting in the gallery, listening entranced, and then to my astonishment finding that part of the audience was upset and scandalised by what they had heard. The impression was so strong that thereafter I began to look out carefully for opportunities of hearing other works by him.