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+--- Thread: Conductor with a great left hand technique (/showthread.php?tid=5176)
Conductor with a great left hand technique - OKCATHY1 - 24-05-2011
Could someone here kindly recommend a conductor (preferably with ample video footage available on Youtube or elsewhere) that has a great left hand (or, non-baton hand) technique for phrasing, cue, and etc? I have seen videos of some trainee and student conductors, and I always find their left hand to be somewhat artificial and forced when it comes to indicating phrase, and would like to see how the masters do it.. thanks!!
RE: Conductor with a great left hand technique - Jerome - 23-11-2019
A lot of people do not realise that when a conductor is guiding a live orchestra in a concert setting he is effectively a mixing engineer. He is balancing the different instruments while the performance is being executed. And you won't believe how complex all their movements can be and what it all means. There are laid-down rules for all motions performed. A triangular motion means do x - a square motion means do y. I remember reading a book on the subject many moons ago. The amount of diagrams depicting baton strokes and movements was staggering. He's not just waving his arms in time to the music and trying to look important. He is controlling the performance of the players and balancing the different elements - in real time!
RE: Conductor with a great left hand technique - Ruby - 23-11-2019
^Whenever anyone mentions a conductor, Herbert von Karajan leaps to mind - my father's favourite. Lots of people's favourite actually - somehow he managed to get orchestras to perform at a higher level, and he used to conduct with his eyes closed (von Karajan that is!).