How To Cook A Conductor, not intended to be read by feint hearted conductors Options

[LDW]

one conductor I remember didn't even have an upbeat or down beat at all - his arms just went round and round in a circle and you couldn't tell which beat was which!

I've played for him too! He closed his eyes, assumed a beatific smile, Andrew Davis style, and stirred an imaginary pudding...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

[Rhoda]

We had a stand in conductor at band that DID have a downbeat and an upbeat, but as she brought the baton up, it was on the beat. So it was sort of an upwards flick. And she'd gradually move from left to right.

...blows my little theory that women conductors are better than men then!

Anyhow I found little gem of a quote in this month's Classic fm magazine: apparently conductor George Szell said, when asked what he thought of Leonard Bernstein, that "conductors must give signals to the orchestra - not choreography to the audience!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

[AmandaL]

I found little gem of a quote in this month's Classic fm magazine: apparently conductor George Szell said, when asked what he thought of Leonard Bernstein, that "conductors must give signals to the orchestra - not choreography to the audience!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

The antics of some are for show and for the benefit of the audience, I'm certain of that. Conductors mop their brow and love to turn to the audience at the end looking hot and ruffled, as though they've just completed a 20 mile hike carrying a 50 kg rucksack.

If there were Oscars awarded for over-acting conductors, there are quite a few who'd be in fierce competition with one another.

What the audience don't notice are wind players with sweat rolling down the sides of their faces. String players with rashes on their neck from where a violin has been stuck under their lower jaw for the last two days of rehearsals. Playing in an orchestra is physically and mentally hard work, and yet many see music as an 'easy' option.

[maggiemay]

one conductor I remember didn't even have an upbeat or down beat at all - his arms just went round and round in a circle and you couldn't tell which beat was which!

I've played for him too! He closed his eyes, assumed a beatific smile, Andrew Davis style, and stirred an imaginary pudding...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

oh, yes - rings a bell! I think I've sung for him too.

[Rhoda]

The antics of some are for show and for the benefit of the audience, I'm certain of that. Conductors mop their brow and love to turn to the audience at the end looking hot and ruffled, as though they've just completed a 20 mile hike carrying a 50 kg rucksack.

LOL some can look as if they've been dragged through a bush backwards and yes I think they like that image! Especially the messy hair!

Mind you I would say that, having conducted a small church choir several years ago in the short musical "A Grain of Mustard Seed" (which was a musical about the chap who started the Sunday School movement in the 1700's) I was quite surprised at how demanding conducting is - not so much physically, but mentally because you have to concentrate for everyone - sops, altos, tenors, bass, and the piano and if you don't remember to bring them in, they won't come in (obviously it's a bit easier with professionals as they have the confidence to come in when they should anyhow). If the conductor makes a mistake then it seems to throw them all out so I had to be really mentally alert. I was totally whacked after each rehearsal and totally drained after the performance. And that was only a little amateur thingy we put on.

What the audience don't notice are wind players with sweat rolling down the sides of their faces. String players with rashes on their neck from where a violin has been stuck under their lower jaw for the last two days of rehearsals. Playing in an orchestra is physically and mentally hard work, and yet many see music as an 'easy' option.

Well I've just started to learn the flute - I got it six months ago and took my Grade 1 a couple of weeks ago and sometimes I'm shattered after only half an hours practice: my arms ache, my neck aches, my mouth and throat get dry, the front of my tongue is sore from where it sticks into my teeth, my diaphragm aches and my poor first finger of my left hand now has a permanent dent in it which is quite sensitive after practice! I can't imagine the stamina you need to play in a orchestra - and sitting down at that. It's much easier to play some instruments standing up.