Klarinet Archive - Posting 000127.txt from 2004/01

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] "Florid" Conductors
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 16:03:47 -0500

The recent mention of the more flamboyant orchestra conductors reminded me
of a question that often came to mind when watching orchestra programs on TV
or attending concerts during my working (and non-playing) career. The
question was, "How do these seasoned, grey-haired musicians keep from
laughing when watching their "florid" (ballet dancing) conductors?"

After retiring and resuming my clarinet studying and participating in a
local "non-professional" orchestra for 5 years, I learned the answer: They
weren't laughing when their conductor was "dancing" around because they were
too busy trying to find the beat.

While we are on the general subject of conductors, maybe one of the more
senior list members (Dan or Avrahm, perhaps) could help me out with the name
of the conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra during the mid to late
'40s. I attended a Chicago Symphony concert in Peoria, IL sometime during
that time and remember the very unusual conducting technique of the
conductor. Observing him from the audience, you seldom saw his arms as 99%
of his beat and cues were done strictly in front of his body.

He might have been a guest conductor for their tour and I have a faint
recollection that his name might have something like "Bloch". I also recall
that he was along in years and my teacher, who was a friend of several of
the woodwind section, told me that he had been told that this conductor
downed a half-pint of good bourbon before going in stage before each
concert. (I know, "Hearsay evidence.) Back to the Mozart.

Regards,

Gene N.

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