blog posted by
David James
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September 5th, 2006 @ 4:55 pm GMT |
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The technique of the baton.
by David James
The figure of the Conductor appears as a real need when the number and variety of instruments grew. He was necessary to unite the players´ willings.
The Technique is the sum of gestures and attitudes the Conductor uses to transmit his will with clearness and accuracy to any kind of musical ensemble. The technical performance concerns almost exclusively the conductors´ arms. The Technique, by definition, is against any kind of theatrical and useless gestures, often very appreciated by the public, mostly ignorant, and by the critics who call "expressive conducting" the clownish pantomime made by the wrongly named "conductors".
In this sense, it goes in opposition to the clearness, and in consequence to the technique: to beat bars or measures before the music begins ( a horrid substitute of the real anacrusis); not to draw clearly the lines of the bar; to beat down the music-stand; to lean to indicate piano and to hide for the pianissimo; to kick the floor when the tempo slows down or goes faster; to jump; to practice fencing with the baton; to beat only up and down as if all the music were written in two parts; to play a "baton solo"; to beat legato when the music is staccato or vice versa; to subdivide when it is not necessary and not to do it when it is compulsory; to beat a tender carol with a huge gesture as if it were the Valkyries´ ride...; in fact, to beat with a gesture that is unaesthetical. We can not forget that one of the most important virtues of the Conductor is the elegance.
It is well known that great composers have failed when conducting a choir or an orchestra and they have even got lost in their own music.
The Technique must be always at the Music's service; this is the difference between a real Conductor and a simple "beater".
To finish this article I propose several reflections:
- Do you think that a lot of gestures, mostly useless, have a positive effect on the performance?
- Don't forget that a real Conductor gives always a sensation of harmony and balance that, undoubtedly, is reflected in the ensemble by terms of assurance and aplomb.
- Technique is a synonym of Clearness.
I hope that someone among you will agree with me or, at least, this opinions make you think about the difficult art of Conducting. I assure you that I can easily demonstrate what I say.
The views and opinions in this blog post are those of its author.
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