 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2003-07-20 03:23
Weird subject, I know.
Anyway, just last week I sat in as a guest clarinetist [ as 1st part, third chair :-) ] with the FIU Wind Ensemble. They were having a conducting symposium thing for conductors to learn how to lead a wind ensemble better and so on. Part of the seminar or w/e was to conduct an actual ensemble, so they got basically mostly FIU students, a few pros and invited about 3 (including me) high school students to round out the clarinet section. Frank Ticheli was there teaching the conductors (ofcourse with his pieces as well as a few other popular/standard compositions) and I have to say he's an amazing conductor. He isn't the clearest I've seen with beats but by his facial expressions you can follow him, and he just exudes the emotion he wants in a particular part of the piece. I've heard stories about certain composers not being able to conduct for their life, and I was just wondering who you thought was an excellent living (i guess non- living as well, but I tend to think centuries back when I say that phrase) composer to be conducted by.
Bradley
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-07-20 14:04
I have worked with many Composer/Conductors.
A few stand out as exceptional musicians at both duties:
Leonard Bernstein
Aaron Copland
Luciano Berio (who just passed away)
Pierre Boulez
Lucas Foss
John Adams
Elliott Carter
Gunther Schuller
Hollywood Film Composer/Conductors:
Carter Burwell
Michael Kamen
Mark Snow (X Files)
Elmer Bernstein
Ennio Morricone
Jerry Goldsmith
Howard Shore
Elliot Goldenthal
There are so many great musicians to learn from...I thank them all.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-20 15:16
Dr. Crawford Gates, Professor (retired) of Theory and Conducting at Beloit College, WI, prolific composer and conductor of the Beloit/Janesville Orchestra; living in Utah and still composing opera and other symphonic works on commission and "for fun."
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2003-07-20 16:19
Vaclav Nehlybel was the conductor for an All County Band I played with in high school in the early 70s. It was a great experience.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-07-21 03:33
I've worked with Charles Mackerras - though he was somewhat more of an arranger than composer, per se.
Also - one of my other favourites is Ross Edwards.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2003-07-22 01:43)
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2003-07-21 04:18
Now that I've played four John Williams compositions with my community band, I am more impressed than ever with his artistry. Presently, we play 'The Mission", his theme music for the NBC Nightly News. Listen to it sometime. It's more complex than you might think, and a treat for clarinets to play.
Has anyone any opinion on his conducting skills? Personally, I've never heard a bad performance by the Boston Pops, with either Fiedler, Williams, or Lockhart at the helm.
.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-07-21 12:25
Andre Previn comes top for me. More a conductor than a composer, but a good composer nonetheless.
Boulez is the other obvious one.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-07-21 22:54
I guess I just don't see the point. Why should one expect a composer to be a good conductor in the first place? Or did I miss something?
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2003-07-22 01:09
I just asked a question. I wanted to find out who people thought WERE good in both realms. I find it hard to "miss something" in this case......
Bradley
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-07-22 12:17
OK, now I understand where you're coming from.....
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-22 17:08
I think that the better the ensemble--ex. Chicago or NY Phil Symphonies--the technical skill of the conductor is far less important than the level of musicianship all so important for effective musical interpretations. I saw Paul Hindemuth conduct the CSO, and although he was a virtual "windmill" as a tecnician, his musical impact on that great orchestra was truely awsome. Fred Fennell is another impeccable musican who can interpret, as well as arrange, that is quite difficult to follow as a conductor (I know from many personal experiances). Bottom line, my theory is that the better the musician, the more effective the conductor.
However, when you are "conducting" your sixth grade beginning bands first public performance, the values switch roles of importance. Your visual directives must be crystal clear and consistant whereas your level of musicianship involved in interpreting "Big Bass Boogie" is quite less a "musical challenge." The middle school band/orchestra teacher also needs to possess much more detailed knowledge of all individual instruments to be an effective teacher or "leader." In the "big" symphonies, all the conductor needs to do is basically say, "Play", and the supurb musicians pretty much do the rest (with some critical musical directives, of course, from the "musician up front") It's like, given the best staff and players at all positions, almost any coach can win the Superbowl. Pee-wee sports????-- that's another story(and set of prioities)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-07-22 17:11
Howard Cable is one of the better one's that I have worked with as of late.
I have also premiered some of the works of Richard Kidd with various ensembles.
Conductors/composers are not always synomous with being great at both!
David Dow
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-07-22 19:38
The composers/conductors whose skills are on an even par is rare, but generally not from lack of talent or ability but from career priorities, commitments and personal druthers. Great composers are not internationally known for their podium prowess (especially when courtesy premiering/conducting their own works) anyway. I'm admittedly a career concert band, commercial, Trad/swing guy but enjoyed the privilege of being led by some of the following masters:
Alfred Reed
Fredrick Fennell
Morton Gould
Vaclav Nelybehl
Malcolm Arnold
Steven Mellilo
Arthur Frakenpohl
Keith Brion
Lowell Graham
Ron Nelson
Robert Russell Bennett
Ira Hearshen
Norman Dello Joio
Donald Grantham
Frank Mantooth
From what I recall the most impressive mechanically was probably Fred Fennell (Kosei Wind Orchestra). For pure, unbridled passion and gift for motivating performers and audiences, Lowell Graham takes the cake (or should I say "ham", National Chamber Players), although technically he looks more like an octopus falling out of a tree. v/r Ken
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