What Does A Conductor Do?

[GoneBaroque]

An interesting article from New York Magazine

http://nymag.com/arts/classicaldance/classical/features/conductors-2012-1/

 

[Dorsetmike]

Fascinating indeed. Well worth reading.

 

[Krummhorn]

Wonderful reading this article, and to learn what really happens on the podium.

 

[marval]

That is a very interesting article, it really does give one an insight into the work of a conductor.

 

[JHC]

A good article GB, 95% 0f the work is done at rehearsals.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi GB,

WOW, Excellent article!!!

It got me thinking.............

A "good" conductor is hard to find these days - I have witnessed in my lifetime so many who are "dragged along" by the orchestra - The orchestra being so much better in musicianship than the conductor.

 

[JHC]

The part that I thought was very appropriate was:
“I ask Jerry Grossman, principal cellist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, how he responds to a conductor with murky body language.
He replied “It’s amazing how beautifully we play when we don’t know what the hell the guy on the podium is doing,” this says a lot

 

[GoneBaroque]

The Conductors Revenge

Congratulations to a conductor with some guts and consideration for the audience.

http://www.soundsandfury.com/soundsandfury/2012/01/our-new-hero.html

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ed-by-chimes-mahler-never-intended/?ref=music

 

[John Watt]

When I visited a restaurant as part of a mayoral election campaign, I was told by a waitress that the cherubic gentleman sitting by himself was a conductor who just moved to Pelham. I went over and sat with him, talking, and after I said I was a professional musician playing a guitar I built, he really got going. I thought his conversation was exhilerating, until he started singing flute parts in a beautiful flute imitation voice. I started singing bass lines and we went nuts. He liked my contrapuntal style that I call funky.

I know how conductors conduct. The conductor for The Ottawa Symphony used to conduct my girlfriend around as an escort for formal events. She met Prime Ministers and got better food than I ever did. He was a Master Conductor, yeah, for sure!

 

[Albert]

In Chicago a number of restaurants confiscate(d) cellphones at the door. I approve. I say (d) because I was last there in 2004. The cell phone is a disease that can only be stopped by treating rude cell phone users rudely.

However, it is not only cell phone users who are rude. At concerts people talk as if they were in front of their TV and no one else was listening to the music. The worst was a man who was snoring in the next seat to my wife at the Chicago Symphony. ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hopefully not goofing off and embarrassing the Orchestra...

Boom-tishhh.............

 

[JHC]

Keeping up with the direction that we seem to be heading I thought it would be of immense interest to everyone to let you in on a secrete ::
I was once a very good friend of a Bus conductor she used to hum a very complicated rendering of the 1812 unfortunately she was promoted to inspector and our paths never crossed again. Very sad

 

[John Watt]

There's a bus driver in Hamilton who is famous for his singing. The last cabbie I caught there was a former jazz and blues recording artist. He knew how to get a big tip from me, after a long ride singing together. I like my trumpet imitation, but when it comes to vocal jamming, I get off singing bass.

Oomp pa-da-pa, oomp pa-da-pa, ba-da ba-da, bop-da-bodda top-ta-bottom whoof!
All the while pulling out the stops, kinda.

 

[JHC]

one of my favourites is

Um-pah um-pah stick it up ya jumper:crazy:

 

[pioudine]

Hi,

To me, conducting is the highest point you can reach in mastering music. A conductor has to handle all the elements that make the music : melody, harmony, orchestration, rhythm, Theory, analysis instrument techniques. He is the real interpreter of the music he conducts and should have a good understanding of musicians psychology. isn't it ?

 

[John Watt]

He also has to be aware of the acoustic reality of the soundhall around him.
Imagine being an actual classical composer, where, unless there is war, cannon and gunfire around you,
the sound of your symphony is the loudest thing anyone can hear, or the quietness.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Dear John Watt,

Do sit down and listen to the "War Requiem" by Benjamin Britten - You'll be forever a changed man.