horncups.com

PHC Horn Forum
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:44 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Conductors?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:55 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:46 pm
Posts: 125
Location: London
Hello horn folk,

I realise it's an emotive subject for those of us who have suffered at the hands of incompetent and discourteous megalomaniacs, as well as enjoying the rare opportunity to make music with a sensitive and competent musician, but what do we think of conductors and their influence/interpretations?

I've just finished studying a number of DVD archives of famous maestros of the past as I have my first orchestral conducting engagement later this year (I must say the only 'big name' I was impressed with was Sir Thomas Beecham "...Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle"). When I was playing professionally I rather immaturely believed that ALL conductors were a very expensive waste of space, and I hated them prejudicially and without mercy.

As I grow greyer and (one hopes) wiser, I see a great deal of value in the right man on the podium. Do any of you folk hold a strong opinion or any stories of how your own development as a musician has been helped by these strange creatures brandishing their little white sticks?

Funny stories are also welcome as are any tips for me as I prepare Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique for later this year.

Kindest Regards as always,

Dean.

_________________
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:07 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:32 am
Posts: 110
Location: south
floor, wall, wall ceiling.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:51 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 4
Deano wrote:
Hello horn folk,

I realise it's an emotive subject for those of us who have suffered at the hands of incompetent and discourteous megalomaniacs, as well as enjoying the rare opportunity to make music with a sensitive and competent musician, but what do we think of conductors and their influence/interpretations?

I've just finished studying a number of DVD archives of famous maestros of the past as I have my first orchestral conducting engagement later this year (I must say the only 'big name' I was impressed with was Sir Thomas Beecham "...Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle"). When I was playing professionally I rather immaturely believed that ALL conductors were a very expensive waste of space, and I hated them prejudicially and without mercy.

As I grow greyer and (one hopes) wiser, I see a great deal of value in the right man on the podium. Do any of you folk hold a strong opinion or any stories of how your own development as a musician has been helped by these strange creatures brandishing their little white sticks?

Funny stories are also welcome as are any tips for me as I prepare Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique for later this year.

Kindest Regards as always,

Dean.


I currently play in a community orchestra with another player who seems to have boundless energy toward making judgements about conductors. He's retired and plays in several groups, and seems to hold most conductors that he deals with on a weekly basis in high esteem.
Except one . . . who he can't seem to disparage enough.
Turns out that conductor was my high school band director who I worshipped and is probably the greatest influence on my musical life to date.
Go figure . . .

_________________
Yamaha 863


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:35 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:46 pm
Posts: 125
Location: London
Jeremy wrote:
floor, wall, wall ceiling.


Thanks Jeremy, very helpful for the first movement of the Berlioz.

Any tips on the waltz and the pastoral movement (in slow 6/8)?

;-)

D.

_________________
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:40 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:46 pm
Posts: 125
Location: London
Jiame wrote:
Deano wrote:
Hello horn folk,

I realise it's an emotive subject for those of us who have suffered at the hands of incompetent and discourteous megalomaniacs, as well as enjoying the rare opportunity to make music with a sensitive and competent musician, but what do we think of conductors and their influence/interpretations?

I've just finished studying a number of DVD archives of famous maestros of the past as I have my first orchestral conducting engagement later this year (I must say the only 'big name' I was impressed with was Sir Thomas Beecham "...Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle"). When I was playing professionally I rather immaturely believed that ALL conductors were a very expensive waste of space, and I hated them prejudicially and without mercy.

As I grow greyer and (one hopes) wiser, I see a great deal of value in the right man on the podium. Do any of you folk hold a strong opinion or any stories of how your own development as a musician has been helped by these strange creatures brandishing their little white sticks?

Funny stories are also welcome as are any tips for me as I prepare Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique for later this year.

Kindest Regards as always,

Dean.


I currently play in a community orchestra with another player who seems to have boundless energy toward making judgements about conductors. He's retired and plays in several groups, and seems to hold most conductors that he deals with on a weekly basis in high esteem.
Except one . . . who he can't seem to disparage enough.
Turns out that conductor was my high school band director who I worshipped and is probably the greatest influence on my musical life to date.
Go figure . . .



Perhaps you should get your colleague to take a rehearsal one day Jiame, it may give him a different perspective on conducting and conductors?

Your old band director sounds like a good fellow, I too had a school band master who was a great influence. A jazz trombonist with a great sense of phrasing (not sure it rubbed off as much as I would have liked).

D :-)

_________________
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:39 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:38 pm
Posts: 255
Location: London
The conductor is the natural and traditional enemy of the horn player. That's just the way it is.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:55 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:55 pm
Posts: 318
Location: Home Counties
"The conductor is the natural and traditional enemy of the horn player."

Is that why so many horn-players become conductors? (Along the lines of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"?)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:50 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:46 pm
Posts: 125
Location: London
Observer wrote:
"The conductor is the natural and traditional enemy of the horn player."

Is that why so many horn-players become conductors? (Along the lines of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"?)


It is appealing...

If you make a mistake as a conductor only a handful of the orchestra will notice, make one as first horn and everyone in the hall notices!

_________________
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:35 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:32 am
Posts: 110
Location: south
Quote:
Thanks Jeremy, very helpful for the first movement of the Berlioz.

Any tips on the waltz and the pastoral movement (in slow 6/8)?


How about some unintelligible arm waving with a furrowed brow and some grunting thrown in ?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Conductors?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:49 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:46 pm
Posts: 125
Location: London
Jeremy wrote:
Quote:
Thanks Jeremy, very helpful for the first movement of the Berlioz.

Any tips on the waltz and the pastoral movement (in slow 6/8)?


How about some unintelligible arm waving with a furrowed brow and some grunting thrown in ?


That's uncanny, have you been watching me prepapre for this concert?!

My favourite rendition of the Symphonie Fantastique is a live performance of the LSO with Colin Davis. Unfortunately, that has some pretty audible grunting and singing along by Sir Colin. Very off-putting...

D :-)

_________________
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group