One day during his tenure as conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Boult was informed that, due to budget constraints, a certain piece scored for two piccolo players would have to be performed by a soloist. Despite Boult's vehement protests, his supervisors remained resolute.

Finally, an irate Boult took his complaint to the head of the department, Charles Carpendale, who -- torn between his respect for Boult and his reluctance to overrule his colleagues -- pondered for a moment before proposing a compromise: "How about using one piccolo," he suggested, "and placing it closer to the microphone?"