What do Conductors do?

[mercalia]

not a lot if this video is anything to go by, other than look like a lunatic waving hands all around and pulling funny faces?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48199568

[youtube]DF8_qGI5Vl0[/youtube]

The players seem to be looking at their scores most of the time about 99% of the time

[reohn2]

It's called artisic expression.

[661-Pete]

The late Sir Thomas Beecham is reputed to have said, in admonishing a female cellist who wasn't playing at her best during rehearsal:
"Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it."

I should stress that not all conductors are like that!

[iandriver]

By the time you've got to the live performance, not so much. It's a bit late to fix it by then, as long as it doesn't all go wrong.

They do save the drummer from having to shout 1234.

From inception through rehearsals, they do rather a lot bringing it together, like a film director.

[reohn2]

By the time you've got to the live performance, not so much. It's a bit late to fix it by then, as long as it doesn't all go wrong.

And she trips and falls off the rostrum

They do save the drummer from having to shout 1234.

From inception through rehearsals, they do rather a lot bringing it together, like a film director.

Quite!

[iandriver]

By the time you've got to the live performance, not so much. It's a bit late to fix it by then, as long as it doesn't all go wrong.

And she trips and falls off the rostrum

I'm sure more than on has launched their baton across the auditorium in the past too

[reohn2]

By the time you've got to the live performance, not so much. It's a bit late to fix it by then, as long as it doesn't all go wrong.

And she trips and falls off the rostrum

I'm sure more than on has launched their baton across the auditorium in the past too

Spearing some poor soul in the audience

[Mick F]

They do save the drummer from having to shout 1234.

Did you ever see The Beatles singing live?
Ringo didn't count them in. They all came in together as a one.
John said (or was it Paul?) that they were a tight little band.

Many good bands never had a count-in. Saw The Who live too, and Moon the Loon never counted them in either.

By the time you've got to the live performance, not so much. It's a bit late to fix it by then, as long as it doesn't all go wrong.

This is correct, I'm sure.

[iandriver]

They do save the drummer from having to shout 1234.

Did you ever see The Beatles singing live?
Ringo didn't count them in. They all came in together as a one.
John said (or was it Paul?) that they were a tight little band.
Many good bands never had a count-in. Saw The Who live too, and Moon the Loon never counted them in either.

I'm more of a The Ramones kind of guy (You'll either get that if you know them, or you won't)

[Oldjohnw]

As a musician this lady made perfect sense to me. Her role is essential.

[PDQ Mobile]

And yet some conductors seem to be able to bring something special out of an orchestra.
Marin Alsopp produced IMHO some very special things with the Bournmouth orchestra.
But there are many other examples.


And while searching for Previn (Xmas sketch, couldn't find it complete) I came upon this rather interesting bit of comic history.
Ernie Wise as conductor!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHH1UQqIMs

[LollyKat]

Many years ago as a student I spent some months in Vienna and was able to attend a lot of concerts - standing-room tickets were really cheap. Among others I regularly heard the no.2 orchestra, the Vienna Symphony. Their performances were all right up to a point but rather pedestrian and I felt they were just coasting on automatic. One day, however, Giulini was conducting...I couldn't believe it was the same band, even though I recognised the familiar faces. The concert was electrifying and I still remember it as one of the highlights of my life. Next week, though, they were back to plodding along as usual.

Dont' forget, too, that a lot of the work is done in rehearsal. I'm sometimes lucky enough to watch some pros rehearse and find it fascinating.

The players seem to be looking at their scores most of the time about 99% of the time

It may seem so, but they can see her out of the corner of the eye, above their music - that's why she's standing on a dais. As an amateur violinist I've played in loads of orchestral concerts and it's something you get used to doing.

[Lance Dopestrong]

I played in a band when I were younger (The Velocity 4 if anyone ever saw us around the Bucks area in the late 80s) and we managed to keep good time without someone in a posh frock or suit impersonating the Karate Kid at the front.

[RickH]

I played in a band when I were younger (The Velocity 4 if anyone ever saw us around the Bucks area in the late 80s) and we managed to keep good time without someone in a posh frock or suit impersonating the Karate Kid at the front.

I'm guessing there were only 4 of you trying to keep time with each other rather than the 50+ of an orchestra.

[Cyril Haearn]

Symphony orchestras may have 100 members, I went to a rehearsal concert with 400
The violinists are plating nearly all the time, the triangle player is waiting nearly all the time
Do they get the same pay?