I've always rather admired those long-haired, overweight, Germanic-looking conductors, who strut around in front of their orchestras, waving an oversized baton and wiping the sweat from their brows. Their excessive energy only adds to whatever is being played by the more hard-working musicians.
But I've always had one question at the back of my mind. Would the music be any different if he wasn't there, waving his stick?
It would be an interesting experiment to record two versions of a piece of music; one with a conductor, and another without. Then play them back to an audience to see if they could tell which was which.
The 'First Violin', sometimes known as the 'Concert master', could easily replace the role of the conductor, and as long as all the other musicians followed their scores to the semi-quaver, then all should go well. I have seen some conductors who seemed totally unaware of the music being played, and simply waved their arms about as some form of 'dramatic theatre'.
I don't wish to advocate conductor-less orchestras, as I think they add drama, but as far as the actual music is concerned I do have my doubts.
As long as someone decided what they were playing I guess they'd work fine without a conductor, buses seem to.
ReplyDeleteAnd probably also when to start and finish too.
DeleteNigel Kennedy once said he never looks at a conductor and they are irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteI once saw him playing here in Brighton, and they had given him a large square of thick carpet to stand on, on account of his jumping up in the air all the time. It did quieten him a bit.
DeleteI have also often wondered about the need for a conductor as the players never seem to be looking at them anyway! Must ask my DIL.....she plays in an orchestra.
ReplyDeleteThe conductor always seems in advance of the players; I suppose they follow their score rather than the conductor.
DeleteI've always thought exactly that as well, how are they supposed to read the music and watch the conductor at the same time? In fact, they probably don't need to do either if they know the music well enough!
ReplyDeleteBetter, I think, to follow the score rather than watch someone being a prima donna.
DeleteWhat you are proposing is almost sacrilegious. Next you will be advocating driverless cars! A conductor is surely the glue that holds an orchestra together.
ReplyDeleteThat's what one would hope, but having watched many conductors over the years, I think they're there just for the 'ambiance'.
DeleteI too have always wondered if they do actually make a difference. Did you see Mr Bean when he was pretending to be a conductor and was madly waving the baton up and down the orchestra were playing madly up and down in response to him. I wondered if that would happen but suspect not.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did see that. And, no, I don't suppose an orchestra would respond like that; they read their scores.
DeleteI think you need someone to bring 40-100 musicians together to start at the same time. Also, we would miss the comic moment when the baton flies out of the hand.
ReplyDeleteThe 'First Violin' could do that, but of course we wouldn't have the drama.
DeleteI often wonder whether anyone in the orchestra a tally watches that baton and what his role really in. I presume it all helps somehow during rehearsals and then he's there to take the bow for the orchestra
ReplyDeleteYou mean, to take all the credit!!!
DeleteI think people seem to be missing the point somewhat.
ReplyDeleteIt is during the rehearsals that the conductor does most of the work. The tempo at which a symphony is conducted can vary significantly depending upon the conductor’s interpretation of the music. The differing interpretations can result in a 74 minute Mahler 5 or a 65 minute one.
I once asked a friend who was a professional musician how difficult was to play Philip Glass. Her response was “difficult but nowhere near as difficult as playing with Nigel Kennedy when he decides to improvise and not do what we all rehearsed”
Also, don’t forget the conductor is the only person who can hear all the instruments.
My point really was would an audience know the difference between a conductor led orchestra, and a first violin led orchestra. I suspect not!
DeleteA good conductor, helps the musicians with timing and volume.
ReplyDeleteYes, but could you tell the difference, with or without conductor?
DeleteYour comment is something I'm sure has been well pondered over for years. Something I've often wondered too!
ReplyDeleteA thorny old subject.
DeleteI’m a fat conductor
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm The Fat Controller.
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