Why Tortuous

A conductor was rehearsing with his orchestra and said to the trumpet player, "I think this part calls for a more Wagnerian approach - if you get what I mean - something more assertive, so to speak, more accentuated, with more body, more depth, more . . ."
The trumpet player interrupted. "Do you want it louder, sir?"
All that the poor conductor could say was, "Yes, that's what I mean."