Klarinet Archive - Posting 000770.txt from 1996/10

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Watch the Conductor! Was Re: Berlin Phil clarinetists?
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:43:31 -0500

>Jacqueline,
> Since you ask my opinion... It really depends on the situation.
>If the show is easy and everything is by the numbers, there's not much
>reason to watch the conductor. He's (not to be sexist - just using the
>conventional English here, folx) there more for the singers than for
>the band. However, if it's a complicated show, you obviously need to
>watch him as much an necessary. In general, pit conductors are even
>worse, if such a thing is possible, than regular ones because they are
>actually pianists or composer/arrangers who are put in charge of rehearsing
>the cast and then inherit the responsibility for the pit orchestra at the
>last minute. So they usually have little or
>no conducting training (not to mention concept of beat, cuing, etc.).
>Luckily, most musicals really aren't too difficult to follow once one has
>read through them a few times, so these music directors can't do much
>harm.
>
>Fred Jacobowitz

I think it also depends on how experienced the orchestra is. I've played
several shows withiout a conductor at all (granted, we were a four piece
combo!), and some where we may as WELL not have had a conductor! Usually,
once you get the feel of the show (and the singers), it pretty much just
works out! I usually don't need a conductor for following singers, and
they, frankly, usually don't pay attention to the orchestra, anyway! The
orchestra IS responsible for following the singers, but they have a
responsibility, too! (I personally believe that if you let the singers
think that YOU'RE following THEM, it only encourages them! My motto:
STEADFAST FLEXIBILITY!!!)
However, there ARE occassions where you need someone to bring the
whole group in at the same time, or to decide exactly where to cut off in
the scene change music, or to control the group's dynamics.
My vote: a wishy-washy "yes" and "no"!!!!

-Scott

(No offense, Jacqueline, but I think timpanists are used to coming in
BEFORE the rest of the orchestra, anyway, and rolling out AFTER everyone
else is finished! Who needs a conductor?!)
-SDM

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410)-955-3631

SDM@-----.edu