Posted: 4/15/2015 2:23:08 AM EDT
| When someone is conducting an orchestral piece, how much of his/her movement is actual direction and how much is "dancing?" |
| I've never played in an actual orchestra. But I have played in bands that used a conductor. Outside of paying attention to make sure I timed the start of the song perfectly, I never overly paid any attention to what the conductor did afterward. I knew the songs forward and backwards. I don't need "direction" when I'm as familiar with the damn music as the conductor. But it does give them something to do and kinda looks neat for the audience. |
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Contrary to what some people believe, there is no "correct" way to perform classical music. Different conductors will have their own opinions how to do it.
And how they want their musicians to play may change from day to day. A person may not always agree with the conductor, but the conductor is the boss. If you have major conflicts over interpretation of music, you should probably quit the group rather than trying to sabotage the conductor with passive/aggressive "ignoring" him or her, no matter how well you know a piece of music. PS: And some of the conductor's action is showmanship. |
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The conductor is basically like a computer control module for your fuel injection and timing. He constantly monitors the situation and adjusts as needed.
He's the only one involved in the musical production that hears what the audience hears ( all of the pieces in their correct volume etc ), so he tunes the different sections throughout to raise and lower the volume of different sections as needed, and he may need to work with the tempo of a seat or a section( other than his keeping time ), but rarely in the case of pros, as they will have generally perfect timing. He also serves to signal upcoming changes is tempo, volume , time signature changes etc by using his body language along with the baton. |
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When someone is conducting an orchestral piece, how much of his/her movement is actual direction and how much is "dancing?" Speaking as a paid conductor here, you can't separate one from the other because there's no separation of the two. The interpretation/direction comes from all of the, as you put it "dancing". The conductor is not there to keep time, for the most part, but rather than interpret the work and to bring life to it. certainly there is a functional element to just laying down the tempo and meter, but a real orchestra/band/choir/whatever is going to bring so much more to a performance than the notes and rhythms. A good conductor is going to be what brings the music to life….the orchestra is the conductor's instrument and just as one pianist may interpret a sonata differently from another, so will a conductor. Just as the instrumentalist will have done most of their work prior to a performance, so will have the conductor. The music selection, the rehearsal schedule, the understanding of the score….all of that has to be done before the first rehearsal and then you have to be able to convey your musical intent efficiently and effectively to the other musicians so that you can get through the works in the allotted time and also actually make music. By the time of the performance, the conductor's role is to key things glued together, but to really add that fire to the performance. A conductor that stands up there and just beats time with no inflection and no energy is worthless. |
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There are constant visual cues for entrances and slight "directions" pf what the conductor wants from you or your section.
What really sucks is when you work all the time with one and then you have a "guest conductor" or someone else step in. The difference is night and day. Conducting is an art form. |
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Quoted:
Contrary to what some people believe, there is no "correct" way to perform classical music. Different conductors will have their own opinions how to do it. And how they want their musicians to play may change from day to day. A person may not always agree with the conductor, but the conductor is the boss. If you have major conflicts over interpretation of music, you should probably quit the group rather than trying to sabotage the conductor with passive/aggressive "ignoring" him or her, no matter how well you know a piece of music. PS: And some of the conductor's action is showmanship. I would assume that the conductor has put his take on the music during rehearsals so that by performance time they already know how he wants it. But I admit I never played in an orchestra so........ |
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Quoted: I've never played in an actual orchestra. But I have played in bands that used a conductor. Outside of paying attention to make sure I timed the start of the song perfectly, I never overly paid any attention to what the conductor did afterward. I knew the songs forward and backwards. I don't need "direction" when I'm as familiar with the damn music as the conductor. But it does give them something to do and kinda looks neat for the audience. |
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Only played in H.S. (baritone horn) and for the most part that is how it goes; you know what he wants and you've run it a hundred times. You might look at him in a few spots (make sure everyone comes in at the same time or something), but spent more time not watching him than watching him. Quoted:
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I've never played in an actual orchestra. But I have played in bands that used a conductor. Outside of paying attention to make sure I timed the start of the song perfectly, I never overly paid any attention to what the conductor did afterward. I knew the songs forward and backwards. I don't need "direction" when I'm as familiar with the damn music as the conductor. But it does give them something to do and kinda looks neat for the audience. You wouldn't make it in my band. 
I change something at least a little every time we run it just to make sure I have everyone's full attention. It's about communication and sometimes the piece takes on a different life as you're performing it and you seize the opportunity to go with it. I pray that I never have to conduct or play a performance where it's going to be identical to another. |
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I used to sing in a well-regarded church choir. Our conductor was amazing. She knew how to get the most out of the group, most of whom were mediocre singers at best.
She never did anything superfluous. Every movement and facial expression somehow made us do exactly what she wanted--it was seriously like magic. That choir is the only time I've ever been able to sing the tenor part of the Hallelujah chorus--and we brought a packed sanctuary to tears with that one. |
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Quoted: You wouldn't make it in my band. I change something at least a little every time we run it just to make sure I have everyone's full attention. It's about communication and sometimes the piece takes on a different life as you're performing it and you seize the opportunity to go with it. I pray that I never have to conduct or play a performance where it's going to be identical to another. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I've never played in an actual orchestra. But I have played in bands that used a conductor. Outside of paying attention to make sure I timed the start of the song perfectly, I never overly paid any attention to what the conductor did afterward. I knew the songs forward and backwards. I don't need "direction" when I'm as familiar with the damn music as the conductor. But it does give them something to do and kinda looks neat for the audience. You wouldn't make it in my band. I change something at least a little every time we run it just to make sure I have everyone's full attention. It's about communication and sometimes the piece takes on a different life as you're performing it and you seize the opportunity to go with it. I pray that I never have to conduct or play a performance where it's going to be identical to another. |
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We're not talking professional here! Quoted:
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I've never played in an actual orchestra. But I have played in bands that used a conductor. Outside of paying attention to make sure I timed the start of the song perfectly, I never overly paid any attention to what the conductor did afterward. I knew the songs forward and backwards. I don't need "direction" when I'm as familiar with the damn music as the conductor. But it does give them something to do and kinda looks neat for the audience. You wouldn't make it in my band.
I change something at least a little every time we run it just to make sure I have everyone's full attention. It's about communication and sometimes the piece takes on a different life as you're performing it and you seize the opportunity to go with it. I pray that I never have to conduct or play a performance where it's going to be identical to another. I did the same thing when I taught Middle School. High expectations breed high results.
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