What Do Conductors Do?
Discussion
Just been flicking through the channels on the TV and The Proms were on.
I watched it for a bit and I just had the thought, what does the conductor actually do? Now I can see that he stands at the front and waves his arm and the baton around but to what purpose?
Surely as the musicians are all bloody good ones they can just read the music that's in front of them and play it without the conductor?
From what I could make out not many of the musicians were taking much notice of him!
I watched it for a bit and I just had the thought, what does the conductor actually do? Now I can see that he stands at the front and waves his arm and the baton around but to what purpose?
Surely as the musicians are all bloody good ones they can just read the music that's in front of them and play it without the conductor?
From what I could make out not many of the musicians were taking much notice of him!
Just replied to this in the other thread.
What you are watching is the conductor beating time, cueing people, showing phrasing, dynamics (volume), shape, etc.
In reality, the musicians will know what they are doing and won't be paying a great deal of attention. Most of the detail will have been worked out in rehearsals, and the conductor is there to interpret the music - that is, to make it say something, put their own stamp on it - without this, the players will all have different ideas about how it should be played. Basically the conductor's job is to get everybody "singing from the same hymn sheet".
A lot of music doesn't really need somebody standing at the front waving their arms around. Most orchestras will be able to play the standard repertoire without, and at the first rehearsal will be pretty much note perfect. Perhaps because the musicians have played it before, or just good sight-reading skills.
Much of the "timing" is done by listening, or watching other players movements - there is a real sixth sense that you develop as an orchestral musician.
I quite enjoy playing without a conductor as it takes the ego out of the equation and you can get on with making music
What you are watching is the conductor beating time, cueing people, showing phrasing, dynamics (volume), shape, etc.
In reality, the musicians will know what they are doing and won't be paying a great deal of attention. Most of the detail will have been worked out in rehearsals, and the conductor is there to interpret the music - that is, to make it say something, put their own stamp on it - without this, the players will all have different ideas about how it should be played. Basically the conductor's job is to get everybody "singing from the same hymn sheet".
A lot of music doesn't really need somebody standing at the front waving their arms around. Most orchestras will be able to play the standard repertoire without, and at the first rehearsal will be pretty much note perfect. Perhaps because the musicians have played it before, or just good sight-reading skills.
Much of the "timing" is done by listening, or watching other players movements - there is a real sixth sense that you develop as an orchestral musician.
I quite enjoy playing without a conductor as it takes the ego out of the equation and you can get on with making music
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Saturday 10th September 23:17
^^^That^^^
Personally I can take or leave conductors, I've played with some great ones but also some complete shockers. I don't see the real need for them (apart from theatre) baring rehearsals. I used to play in a 12-15 player percussion ensemble and the MD wouldn't conduct for performances and insisted all pieces would be memorized as the public weren't paying to see him or music stands blocks the performers. They were some of the best concerts I've ever played!
To add to that point I saw Hans Zimmer earlier in the year and he played himself for most of the show with a few cues here and there and the performance was flawless.
Personally I can take or leave conductors, I've played with some great ones but also some complete shockers. I don't see the real need for them (apart from theatre) baring rehearsals. I used to play in a 12-15 player percussion ensemble and the MD wouldn't conduct for performances and insisted all pieces would be memorized as the public weren't paying to see him or music stands blocks the performers. They were some of the best concerts I've ever played!
To add to that point I saw Hans Zimmer earlier in the year and he played himself for most of the show with a few cues here and there and the performance was flawless.
One day a bus is running late and the conductor has to end his shift early. So he tells the driver to skip a few stops to get to the depot quickly. The driver agrees, however at the next stop an old man with a Walker is slowly walking towards the bus signalling the driver to wait. The conductor however is extremely impatient and shouts at the driver to skip the stop. The driver declines and the conductor pushes him away and drives off, but in the process, the old man gets hit by the bus and dies.
The conductor is then arrested by the police and taken to court where he is given a death sentence and is to be executed by the electric chair.
Now, in his city, is a rule where if a criminal survives the electric chair thrice, he will be free to go. However, no one had survived after the first try.
The conductor is made to sit on the electric chair and the executioner asks him if he has any last wishes. The conductor said, "I'd like to have one banana." He is given it and eats it. The executioner starts the electric chair, but nothing happens to the conductor.
Confused, he is taken back to his cell and a mechanic is called to fix the chair. However he says there is no fault in it.
The conductor is called again and asked again if he had any last wishes, and he asks for a banana again. He eats the banana and the executioner starts the chair again. Again, nothing happens. This news spreads in the city like Wildfire and the media is going crazy over this amazing feat.
For the last time, the conductor is brought in again and again wishes for a banana. He eats it and the electric chair fails to work on him for a third time.
Everyone is shocked and the conductor is allowed to leave freely. Upon exiting the prison, the media immediately bombards him with one question, "What is the secret of the banana?"
He takes the mic and says, "Absolutely nothing."
"Then how did you not die by the electric chair?" they ask.
Smiling, he replies, "That's because...
I'm a bad conductor."
The conductor is then arrested by the police and taken to court where he is given a death sentence and is to be executed by the electric chair.
Now, in his city, is a rule where if a criminal survives the electric chair thrice, he will be free to go. However, no one had survived after the first try.
The conductor is made to sit on the electric chair and the executioner asks him if he has any last wishes. The conductor said, "I'd like to have one banana." He is given it and eats it. The executioner starts the electric chair, but nothing happens to the conductor.
Confused, he is taken back to his cell and a mechanic is called to fix the chair. However he says there is no fault in it.
The conductor is called again and asked again if he had any last wishes, and he asks for a banana again. He eats the banana and the executioner starts the chair again. Again, nothing happens. This news spreads in the city like Wildfire and the media is going crazy over this amazing feat.
For the last time, the conductor is brought in again and again wishes for a banana. He eats it and the electric chair fails to work on him for a third time.
Everyone is shocked and the conductor is allowed to leave freely. Upon exiting the prison, the media immediately bombards him with one question, "What is the secret of the banana?"
He takes the mic and says, "Absolutely nothing."
"Then how did you not die by the electric chair?" they ask.
Smiling, he replies, "That's because...
I'm a bad conductor."
O/P there's another reason. I employ conductors so that when I'm in a recording studio, I can sit in the control room, listen to the performance, and shout into the conductor's headphones (without the orchestra hearing) and he can translate. i.e:
Me to conductor: "Can't strings play anything in f
king time?"
Conductor to orchestra: "Sounds great... we'll do one more... Would anyone like more click in their cans?"
Me to conductor: "Can't strings play anything in f
king time?" Conductor to orchestra: "Sounds great... we'll do one more... Would anyone like more click in their cans?"
GetCarter said:
O/P there's another reason. I employ conductors so that when I'm in a recording studio, I can sit in the control room, listen to the performance, and shout into the conductor's headphones (without the orchestra hearing) and he can translate. i.e:
Me to conductor: "Can't strings play anything in fking time?"
Conductor to orchestra: "Sounds great... we'll do one more... Would anyone like more click in their cans?"
Are you advocating the use of extreme violins?Me to conductor: "Can't strings play anything in f
king time?" Conductor to orchestra: "Sounds great... we'll do one more... Would anyone like more click in their cans?"
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff