What a conductor actually does on stage

It’s more than just dancing around.
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If you’ve ever seen an orchestra perform you’ve probably had a difficult time looking away from the person dead center on the stage - the conductor. It’s hard to miss someone as they swing their arms around pointing at the musicians that seem to be focused instead on their music stands. So what exactly is the conductor doing?
We decided to ask James Gaffigan - a conductor who recently guest conducted the New York Philharmonic in Central Park - just what it is that makes a conductor so necessary and how their actions shape the performance.
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[@secretafaf]

im a conductor and youre watching disney channel

[@jurgenkun7040]

OI hated this show.

[@locvu5492]

lol

[@shir624]

You made me imagine it.

[@imen7610]

I’m not even musician and I thought this was a bit dorky. This is probably not what conductors are really like.

[@fattit7598]

@@imen7610 r/woooosh

[@Kevin-fj5oe]

"So, what instrument do you play ?" Conductor: " an orchestra "

[@nnnnnn496]

A stick.

[@peach495]

The answer is all of them. To be qualified as a conductor you need to be able to pick up any instrument within the orchestra & demonstrate what you want from them if they're not getting it from instruction.

[@ouassimzayani8806]

@@peach495 *sad Triangle noises*

[@eddygci8]

Freewheelin' Franklin so the orchestra lol

[@jacobbass6437]

@@peach495. This is only for middle school. When you work with some of the top musicians in the world, you don’t need to demonstrate with the instrument, just words should do the trick with maybe a hint of singing. But no, only amateurs need to shown by a conductor on an instrument.

[@zandelscomicsandcards7543]

I would like to hear a song WITH a conductor. And then hear the same song WITHOUT a conductor.

[@nkosinathimlenzane3044]

Me too.

[@Dylan-Juhan]

I think it would make sense to have the orchestra prepare the music without a conductor, perform, then have the conductor step in and rehearse it to their interpretation for the second performance.

[@squattinggopnik_4205]

It’s called chamber music

[@KingRCT3]

I went to a choir conductor contest and with the same choir, they had like 9 conductors in a raw coming to interpret it. I didn't hear any differences between each haha, but musically-trained ears certainly did. They were all "oh this one was more like [...] and this one more like [...] and you felt the choir be more like [...] with this one".

[@hannahherrmann4921]

I do this in my band class

[@laram4921]

Things a conductor does (among others): - Keeps everyone in time, when the music slows or gets faster, he makes sure everyone does so at the same rate - Cues different sections to come in. Sometimes rhythms are very tricky and the conductor helps by indicating when to play and where. Also a lot of parts such as those for brass or percussion for example may have very long extended periods of rest where they are not playing, so the conductor confirms when to come in to those musicians who have been counting their rest bars. - Dynamics. They're written in the music but he indicates to the players to what extent and how soft or loud they should be. He keeps the balance between the different sections so all the key parts can be heard within the full sound of the orchestra. Sometimes sections get too loud, so he can decide to push them back and reminds them to keep quiet, etc. - Articulation + interpretation. His gestures tell the players how to play - sharply, strongly, smooth, etc. Also shows how to play the phrase, with motion towards a certain note etc. - Sometimes you get lost while performing and the conductor is useful to get back in time as he clearly indicates the first beat of each bar. Basically the conductor is like a director! He is the one with the artistic vision and helps the musicians to achieve it. The orchestra rehearses with the conductor many times before a performance - this is where he conveys to the musicians what he would like them to do etc. It is much like rehearsals of a play - the actors can learn their lines on their own but the director helps them come to life. The conductor is needed again during the performance to bring it all together and reminds each section of what to do like they have been practicing in rehearsal! Hope this helps :)

[@richardross1754]

Lara M that explains things much more clearly. Thank you!

[@eugeneflynn7435]

I agree. Truly helpful for a Rube like me. Thank you for taking time to share.

[@theequalizer6784]

You explained better

[@grod3an]

This is better than the video

[@Vivianeboavista]

This is much more informative than the video. Great stuff, thank you!

[@britshell]

This video has a lot less trains in it than I expected.

[@MetalheadAndNerd]

britshell And no electronics at all.

[@dickjohnson4447]

MetalheadAndNerd if they are cool enough they become super conductors, right 😎

[@CoD6HModthedeisel]

This video has a lot less trains in it than I expected. FTFY

[@humbletreestump8134]

Hahaha

[@tmoe_ow2523]

stupid

[@ShesAaRebel]

I used to play violin in school, and when my teacher would be the conductor during a performance, I would notice that my mind almost goes blank. I have the music in front of me, but I would know the songs so well that I would hardly glace at it most of the time. She was able to give me the cues so well and show me how I should be playing, it was like my fingers on the strings and my hand on the bow would play on their own. It was such a big difference to me when comparing her standing in front of us, versus during a lesson when she would sometimes be moving around the class (to better hear how individuals were doing), and letting us play while giving verbal cues. If someone were to ask me, "What does a conductor do?", I feel like my answer wouldn't do it justice. Even this video doesn't really do it justice. The only way for people to *really* get it, is to play in an orchestra.

[@Mica_T]

Agreed. I've played with about 5 different conductors. Some of them don't express, and I always find myself playing blandly. But when they get lively, you can feel the energy and your playing sounds more heartfelt.

[@HarekaTysiri]

i dont play music, but your last sentece really upsets me. i think you shouldn't give up on music if you really love it. because art is a part of human life

[@wb4882]

magic wand put you under a trance. don't worry bout it.

[@benmeitzen4184]

This is SO true, they're essential.

[@wolfgirllove6264]

I’m guessing you were never 1st chair 😂

[@gabrielgaaferreira]

I've heard that metal is a good conductor.

[@battlefield902]

dead xD

[@avadi2973]

PLEASE 💀

[@winwinshinebrightimalive3763]

Genius!

[@sam3524]

Especially when supercooled

[@ded8491]

a bit lost but you got the spirit

[@Logrusmage]

This video doesn't actually explain anything beyond the very first bit when he tells us the right hand keeps the beat.

[@josuepalomares6820]

Its also gives cues

[@PatrickBateman191]

It is relative. To someone who knows nothing about conducting, it is interesting.

[@bigman25plus25]

It's a 5 min video bro chill

[@bessie9330]

talk about salty jeez

[@rxw5520]

I thought exactly the same thing. There's a similar video on here by Wired that's WAY better.

[@animec-dramaskpop6362]

I love it when the conductor go crazy.

[@lexc1560]

“Music make you lose control” - Missy Elliot

[@animec-dramaskpop6362]

Joao Rocha 😉

[@animec-dramaskpop6362]

Anna Heebsh I will, thanks.

[@janniswildermuth1499]

Yesterday I was at a student's concert at the university of arts in Berlin, and the concertos were all conducted by students who had their conducting exams as part of this performance, so they were all a bit nervous. Now the first of the students to conduct did a great job. He was energetic, precise and yet very powerful during the climaxes of the pieces. However he was so energetic that he seemed to lose his breat quite a bit, because at one point, a section of fortissimo was followed directly by complete silence, a bar long pause for everyone. And after having gone absolutey wild during the crescendo, everyone could hear the conductor wheezing frantically during that pause. It cracked up a lot of people, but I think everyone forgave him. Funnily enough, the first violin also had to supress a huge grin for the next twenty seconds or so. Easily the most humurous part of the evening.

[@georgehutson7950]

afro curly girl

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

I always saw it this way: The conductor plays the orchestra in the same way that each of the musicians plays their instrument.

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

And here was I thinking it was obvious that I simplified.

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

Hugo Lee fair enough

[@phantasos12]

Ah, so THAT'S why my marimba keeps insisting upon union breaks once every hour. It makes sense now. ;)

[@ThePeaterBeater]

my old director always said during rehearsals “just as you practice your instrument outside of rehearsal, I practice mine here”

[@Pixeliarmus]

@@dragoncurveenthusiast Never obvious enough for people

[@joshwilliams6517]

Pandemic got me falling into KZbin holes I don’t even do music

[@bessie9330]

ikr

[@wafaeazrak1373]

😂😂

[@moodymoods9261]

Me too I know nothing about music hahaha

[@kausanidatta5470]

Search Twosetviolin on KZbin, you won’t be disappointed lol

[@srijonmondal8842]

I'm learning about music as I want to a Filmmaker.

[@raffitchakmakjian]

"I think people should focus on the music, and not the conductor." Well said.

[@lipca]

This was so emotional it made me tear up ngl .

[@cg7240]

You have to focus on the conductor or else there won't be music, it will sound so messed up. I hate how non-musicians just don't understand how it works.

[@raffitchakmakjian]

@@cg7240 the audience should focus on the product of the symbiotic relationship between the conductor and the ensemble, which is also referred to as the music.

[@nitijha1193]

​@@cg7240 no you don't understand this comment

[@cg7240]

@@nitijha1193 You brought back up something from a year ago. Totally unnecessary. Also, if I don't understand, why don't you clarify what is in my reply that makes you feel as so?

[@MichaelJayValueInvesting]

Everyone knows that the bigger baton you have the better conductor you are.

[@rokadam7117]

Michael Jay - Value Investing NO, bigger the baton, more resistance. More resistance, poor conductor. Ohm's law, V=IR. But yeah if they are cool they'll certainly be superconductors.

[@get-the-joke]

Valery Gergiev can beat you to a pulp with a toothpick.

[@Aviationlord7742]

The bigger the arm gestures the more dedicated the conductor

[@roycemikhail5067]

That's what she- oh.

[@kurbaga6041]

It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it...

[@maximus5060]

I thought that the job of a conductor is to throw a chair at the drummer.

[@ritzbittz]

Not quite my tempo.

[@chishionotenshi]

One of mine once threw his pencil at the percussion and snapped, "Maybe you'll play better with THAT." In his defense they were, to a man, not paying any attention and late to enter for the third time. Good old high school "I'm just here for easy credit" band.

[@hijack69]

Nice nice nice

[@t.veritas884]

“Do you know why I threw that chair at you?”

[@alx81]

Well, is the drummer asleep?

[@AlexRiversMusic]

Conductors are really important, I feel like us orchestral musicians understand but no one else does.

[@spinblackcircles]

I don’t think most people think about it very much.

[@hoodiesticks]

One thing that is worth pointing out is that the conductor is standing in front of the audience, so he hears the song the way the audience does. That's a much bigger deal than you might realize. I played percussion for years in school, and every time I heard a recording of the songs I played in, it felt like a completely different song. Certain parts were way louder or softer, the timbre of certain instruments was different, and parts that I thought sounded great from the back ended up sounding annoying and grating from the front. There were several occasions (especially with cymbals and timpani) where I had to make noises that to my ears sounded terrible, but I trusted that they would sound good by the time they reached the front of the room. That's why it's important to have someone at the front of the room giving feedback. If everyone just plays something that sounds good to their own ears, the mix will be a muddled mess.

[@mmrbest123]

ahhh this helps me understand about what a conductor does. wow thank you

[@blankbmusic]

If a conductor did the robot while conducting, would the symphony play dubstep?

[@natashas.1566]

OMG, your comment totally got me. Am ROFLing. Thank you :)

[@ruthwikrao9603]

Brandon Garcia 😂😂

[@reyariass]

😂😂😂

[@rajat0610]

Should be pinned to the top!

[@joeplavin]

Natasha S. Rolling on the floor laughing-ing

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

So the right hand is the metronome, and the left hand is the director. That makes sense to me.

[@prototypeinheritance515]

That's just the textbook version, in practice there's an exception for every rule.

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

@@prototypeinheritance515 - Care to elaborate then?

[@kimchi2911]

@@Burnt_Gerbil although the right hand is technically the metronome, the way the conductor moves around the right hand can also affect the music. Eg. Moving the right hand around in a smooth and big manner can mean to play more expressively. Hopefully you understand, and sorry if my phrasing isn’t good

[@obsidianstatue]

So conductors are basically more skilled upscale DJs.

[@puracaxa]

Air DJing

[@SomalieDXB]

This is the exact analogy I use when I explain what a DJ basically does. The right hand is like riding the pitch on the turntables and the left hand is like controlling the EQ.

[@timdesuu]

Conductor: "Wingardium Leviosa"

[@mohduzairrusli3741]

mi paaaaaaaaaan

[@tortellinitentacles69years99]

I thought conductors were a wizard

[@swallowedinthesea11]

They roleplay as Skywalker dueling Emperor Lord Darth Vader is what I believed until now!

[@jurgenkun7040]

He‘s trying but it’s not working

[@yasso99991]

ho w to inglish

[@hairyputter5363]

Vader conducted the imperial March with his force abilities

[@swirlandtwirl5417]

Haha

[@doodelay]

Does this mean that conductors are like a single, living music sheet that everyone can read at once?

[@wojciech2279]

Yes, except for the fact that they don't tell you what to play (you still have written score for this purpose) but exactly HOW to play it.

[@daybreak2127]

Doodelay Explains No._. The video kinda glossed over the topic of tempo. What the conductor does is keep all 200+ people in sync, and tells the orchestra when certain notes or rests end. E.X. A fermata over a rest, they choose when it ends. They can speed up or slow down the tempo for dramatic effect.

[@lnhart7157]

On a way, but normal sheet music tells you exactly what to play, and just a bit on how to play. A conductor doesn't tell you which notes to play, but the exact speed, phrasing, dynamics etc.

[@pearlllg]

I think the poetry of your thought was lost on some of the more prosaic here, but I appreciate the question.

[@altrag]

More along the lines of a metronome, keeping the time. Though if the band has rehearsed well enough, the conductor shouldn't really be needed and is mostly there as an ego stroke and because the audience expects him to be there. As others have said on this thread, most of their work is before the performance getting those rehearsals to the point of "well enough." Being in the live show is more their victory lap for getting everything together.

[@anthonymcbride3723]

I love conductors, I'm just totally enveloped and mesmerized in the way they control the flow of the music, it's direction, the impact of the beats and rhythms, as well as the force of being hit with the passion that everyone is putting into the music, and the vibrations that are sent throughout my soul!! I don't have much of a passion for music, but I do love, enjoy, and respect the art that it gives for all cultures!!

[@Me-wk7dz]

Conductors usually do more than just conduct the performance, they typically lead rehearsals with the orchestra and organize the sounds/articulations/volumes/shaping/etc.

[@TheStockwell]

Orchestras need conductors the same way sports teams need coaches and restaurants need a head chef. You need someone keeping perspective on the entire operation and able to say, "Not so much of that - and we need more of that." As to why some conductors get by with minimal gestures while other spin and jump up and down, it's a matter of style. I mean, if you give copies of "Hamlet" to twenty different actors, you're going to get that many different Hamlets. Someone watching a conductor leading the Berlin Philharmonic told his friend, "I can't follow or make any sense of what he's doing." The response from his friend, "Well, I guess as long as the Berlin Philharmonic knows what it all means, we'll be fine."

[@267cal]

This explains it so much faster thanks

[@themoshpit8341]

Excellent analysis!

[@jonatanwestholm]

Interesting, now I see the connection between large musical bands and military units.

[@cancunale1]

but isn't this what sheet music does ? just curious if a conductor is necessary in an orchestra when the orchestra has been studying the sheet music. Doesn't the sheet music indicate all of this? genuinely curious.

[@jasercervantes]

This is the video I didn't know I was waiting to see.

[@extr3me_warriorzx271]

When I think of a conductor I always remember Mr. Bean.

[@harringtonvo]

I’m still not convinced a tight professional orchestra couldn’t be just as epic without these dudes

[@94gamerboy]

the video is misleading. The majority of their job is completed during rehearsal. Every piece of music is interpreted differently by a conductor and he instructs the orchestra during rehearsal on how exactly they want it played. By the time the of the actual performance the orchestra knows how the conductor wants it played and has little to do when he finally gets on stage. The musicians occasionally glance at the conductor during the performance to be reminded of certain cues and to keep everyone on the same page (literally). IDK why the video didn't address this.

[@zxcvbnm2491]

The video only claims to address what happens on stage, during performance, which is what most non-musical people know a conductor for. It might not be the most informative video, but people wanting to learn more about music likely wouldn't look to Vox anyway.

[@Superstarlight867530]

Raul De La Paz - I’ve wondered something similar actually. I understand that a particular conductor may have their own individual way they like a certain piece to be played, but as you say, by the time of the performance, surely the orchestra has it down cold? And would or could personal interpretation always apply, anyway? I mean, for example, take something super well-known, like, hmm...Debussy’s Clair de Lune, ok? That piece of music will surely always be played in the same way, as the soft, lovely, gentle, relaxing yet very evocative piece it is. It’s very unlikely that a conductor is going to say, right, let’s kick this up a notch and really let it rock! you know what I mean? By the same token, an orchestra playing the 1812 Overture is scarcely going to be directed by the conductor to play it like a lullaby - there’s only one way that piece is played, right? loud and forceful and heart-stirring! So, hmmm 🤔. Will be interested in your thoughts...

[@LevW]

Thanks so much for the clarification. I thought the conductor's only job was to show the orchestra how to play on stage and kept asking myself why that is necessary after multiple hours of rehearsal.

[@daybreak2127]

Superstarlight867530 They didn't address tempo as much as they should have. That and the OP forgot to mention, some songs have cues that change every time you play it. A great example, something I played years ago in band. The Witch and The Saint. That song was never played the same way twice in rehearsal or on stage. Our conductor changed the timing of some fermatas to be more or less dramatic. The tempo was never constant, he went with what felt good for the moment. By the time the performance is there, the conductors main job is to give tempo and show when certain notes end.

[@samdajellybeenie14]

It depends on the conductor. Some conductors will do things in performance that they've never done before. And depending on your perspective, it can be annoying or thrilling.

[@marichristian1072]

Why not explain how the conductor is able to read a dozen + lines of music throughout a complex symphonic work?

[@laurenhinkle1999]

Mari Christian The job of the conductor is to study the score so well that he or she knows everything happening at every moment. They study in chunks and find the most important line of each chunk, while also understanding the backgrounds. They know every time signature, key signature, chord and tempo. During the performance, the score is only used as a reference. Some even conduct without scores.

[@marichristian1072]

@@laurenhinkle1999 Thank you so much, Lauren. As a cellist, sometimes a single line is a challenge to memorize. Musical entrances and exits also demand absolute concentration.

[@davidmdyer838]

Many conuctors use colored pencil to code their scores. Not everything is important at once.

[@NaishaS]

My director highlights the score so he can visually see which instruments share the melody, counter melody, rhythmic parts, etc.

[@vari1535]

@@marichristian1072 Canon in D?

[@majarimennamazerinth5753]

A good conductor keeps everyone in time, acts out mood and dynamics, reminds soloists of their entries, and organises every rehearsal according to their individual creative vision.

[@sageobrien6776]

Bluebee Majarimenna Agreed!

[@JanMichael-Vincent]

I love that no one is talking about how this guy’s name is Jim Gaffigan

[@richardross1754]

When do they show his name?

[@sahiblindberg]

This

[@JanMichael-Vincent]

richard ross it’s in the description

[@donutello_]

The conductor is actually the one making the puppet orchestra move and play I played wii music trust me

[@donutello_]

A person without a job they love doing

[@Trekki200]

Have you ever seen the Mr.Bean movie in which he is at Harrows and accidentally conducts an orchestra? Rowan Atkinson said about the scene once, that he thought he would wave around a stick and the orchestra would play their own stuff. And the he realised that they were actually playing what he indicated them to play. (Which btw is insanely complicated)

[@maxgainz1324]

Usless Usless Usless

[@Jm-lr2fv]

DIOOOOOOO

[@redrooster3420]

"I played wii music trust me" GHDGHJDHGJ THAT PART GOT ME SCREAMING

[@mvn_dn]

I just realized I’ve never seen a female conductor

[@gavindonnelly331]

If you're a classical fan, Try Marin Alsop. She's very good.

[@saddaddytentacles9897]

M D same

[@ellispipermusic]

Also try JoAnn Falletta, she's incredible

[@definitelynotskittles]

My orchestra conductor is female lol she's really good

[@norahidvegi846]

because there's a lot more guys in that industry. but there are a couple women there as well, and some of them are really good. :)

[@wammy5467]

I think most people are missing the point. Conductors do so much of their work BEFORE the concert. They're the ones who have a vision for what the piece should sound like, and get the best out of their orchestra. Music is not as simple as simply reading sheet music and replicating it. It, for example, won't tell you how the second violins are meant to blend with the trombones in a passage. That's the conductor's job; he basically pieces together all the little nuances and colours in a piece of music to make it as amazing as it is. Some might ask why older (baroque and classical) orchestras lack conductors and that's mainly due to the smaller size of the orchestra. With less parts and writing not as rich as say late Beethoven or Tchaikovsky, a conductor is not entirely necessary. During the performance (on stage), the conductor is basically keeping everything together, all the little gestures are simply reminding the specific player of what they rehearsed and how it should be played!

[@Nevermorepicker]

me seeing a conductor for the 1st time in my childhood: *_man this guy is doing some fancy hand movement_*

[@ericfartman5624]

If he is the bus conductor he should thank the bus driver.

[@barateza16]

wait a damn minute

[@pinkmapviolin]

The title of the video is "What a conductor actually does ON STAGE", so I'll forgive the video for not mentioning that the conductor's main job occurs during rehearsal in directing the orchestra on how to play the music. But really (and this is coming from an orchestral musician) I don't think the conductor does very much at all during performance. The conductor starts the orchestra, establishes rhythm, and controlls changes in the music (rubato, accelerando, ritardando, etc.). All of the musical flourishes (the left hand) that conductors cherish so much are mostly ignored and are unnecessary, as they should've been already communicated through words during rehearsal. However, I will concede that this does mean that a conductor's job on stage is more important the less rehearsals an ensemble gets or the less an ensemble knows the style of a certain conductor. A conductor's job on stage also matters more the less advanced an orchestra is.

[@soso-zz9qf]

pinkmapviolin finally a comment from a real orchestral musician!

[@talentstitus]

Happy to see one comment appreciating the real role of conductor than the choreography.

[@nguyeneric4576]

pinkmapviolin k now shut up.

[@nguyeneric4576]

pinkmapviolin beotch

[@TAP7a]

I never made it past university level orchestras, but I always got a lot out of the conductor - with only weekly rehearsals, you don't get to internalise the exact miniscura of the conductor's interpretation, so I always read the gestures even more closely on the day, which then take precedence over any written notes in the part. Obviously I'm a fourth-rate musician at best, but I have played in orchestras for about 13 years overall, so I think I have at least something to say about it

[@gunabitez]

I learn how important a conductor is when I watch the movie `Whiplash' "Not quite my tempo"

[@MorrisArena]

Great movie! but that behavior would get a conductor fired immediately and hated

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@James Cunico It wasn't far off from that in the late 70s. Nobody bled like that from a drum stick, though. Never happened.

[@CalTxDude]

I never tire of watching this great video! He explained it so well, it's obvious he loves it so much and... I get a kick out of watching him!!

[@ronixrising8886]

The answers in the comments section are way more informative than the video itself.

[@robertcotrell9810]

Disagree

[@frisbeeeater]

Agreed... I still don’t know what they do

[@robertcotrell9810]

frisbeeeater Conductors offer a single interpretation of the music, which they hold their ensemble too. They maintain togetherness, promote effective musicianship, and lead rehearsal. In many ways, they are the face of the ensemble.

[@frunkybooii]

@ronix rising agreed. This video doesn't contain what it says on the tin. Sure a conductor moves purposefully on stage and each conductor has their own style. But WHY is the conductor there? Shouldn't that be the main point covered in the video? Is there any discernible difference between a piece of music played by the same orchestra with different conductors? Or no conductor at all? I'm not a music expert and maybe there is a difference, but this video didn't make that point any clearer. Some of the comments do though. It would be less clickbaity if Vox called this video "a discussion with a conductor" or something similar.

[@michaelkyledomalaon3218]

The conductor is sooo important. I can’t imagine singing in my choir without having one. They helped us by creating imagery to the music we were singing and it helped convey the emotion. Thank your conductors everyone haha

[@SM-hy4np]

Thank you for taking the time to film and publish this. Well done and appreciate the lesson.

[@rubievale]

I'm a professional guitarist, who has spent his entire life internalising the beat, the rhythmic pulse of a song, and the first time I sat in with an orchestra I was somewhat surprised at how classical musicians don't do the same thing. For me there's a regular, rhythmic beat that won't waver too much. There will be a push and pull, absolutely, but classical music doesn't have such a rigid sense of timing, it ebbs and flows in a completely different manner to the music I've played for a living for 35yrs. I learned more about what a conductor does while I struggled to find my way in an orchestral setting than at any other time, before or since. I used to think they kept time, but I vastly underestimated their role

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

this was a very comprehensive tutorial

[@ms.rstake_1211]

ikr? He was great

[@jangonauta]

I feel like.. i could explain.it to someone else without problem

[@sthoverthere]

I definetely feel ready for this new career path now.

[@joeplavin]

sthoverthere no

[@tearsintheraincantfeelthep475]

As a musician, my biggest pet peeve is people, who don't believe in conducting

[@cheesecakelasagna]

conductor is flat

[@tearsintheraincantfeelthep475]

CheesecakeLasagna get out... 😂

[@faisalhardan3508]

Convince us

[@Jesse__H]

What about the multiple professional orchestras currently working that do not use a conductor at all, ever. Seems like they're managing just fine!

[@sarahminner5173]

Jesse H. They put it in a lot more work and have to talk to each other about it a lot. A normal practice in high school is 2 hours a day, so 2 hours with which would be probably taken up a majority of the time trying to compromise on how the piece should be played, the tempo, and whether or not to follow the fermata and other markings. Having conductors is very helpful because you're often doing as the conductor wishes you to play. Instead of holding the fermata for 2 beats they might ask you to hold it 10 all while keeping a smile on your face. Conductors add an extra order to any ensemble because instead of 40-100+ people getting their word in, the conductor conducts what they think is the best at the time. Also might I add that a majority of those conductorless orchestras are chamber, so there are maybe 15 members if they're rather big. Chambers are smaller, and have better communication between peers than a regular sized orchestra.

[@NatiDeNut]

Great and nuanced explanation! It is a little short, I could listen to this guy for hours!

[@drummerxkun]

conductors are so so so important i cant even put to words how incredible their work is

[@darko.ristanovic]

*it's laviOsa, not laviosAR!*

[@ndirjura]

I cannot believe that's the only HP joke in this comment section

[@Alexagrigorieff]

*Leviosa

[@rhyshyllecollins7641]

No wonder harry potter said something like that laviosa with the stick 😁

[@Jeremy_Fisher]

@@zlomenina If you're implying that Harry Potter book fans are illiterate gits I'd like to disagree with you. If they've read the books, it's pretty likely they've read more books. Movie only fans on the other hand have likely never read a book they enjoyed. Whether or not they've read other books doesn't diminish the fact that Harry Potter is a great book series with tons of fans that are ready to understand and appreciate jokes from the books/movies. You won't get the same effect from the majority of incredible books out there, except for lord of the Rings. People like you would probably get sour about that too, because you probably only respect certain books that you deem 'mature'. There's just no pleasing some people. Read what you like and like what you read.

[@davidmehnert6206]

Seriously, I didn’t understand this comment. Pretty sure I’m not qualified for any job in the HR Department.

[@wolffgang101]

What he said about the brass is totally right.

[@cinekrit_de6516]

And sadly enough, everybody knows "the hand"...

[@centuriomacro9787]

I've only played in "brass only orchestras" so far and Im not familiar with what the conductor ist trying to accomplish there. So what is he trying to prevent you from doing? And whats the problem (or the complaints) with "brass" in an orchestra in general?

[@cinekrit_de6516]

In symphonic orchestras, brass is easily louder than the reeds or strings (or at least seem to be louder in a 1:1 comparison). This means if the brass section is playing forte, they can easily drown the rest of the orchestra. This can throw off the balance of sounds, overlay important themes or simply be unpleasant to hear. Showing "the hand" to the brass section basically means "You're too loud". Although this may be the case, showing the hand before (!) one starts to play, sends the signal "Whatever comes out of your instrument will probably be too loud.", "Restrict yourself" or "Don't you dare to be too loud". If this happens abruptly, this may surprise or scare the musician to start playing with the commitment the instrument or part may need. You probably know that the control of the tone can be pretty challenging, e.g. for the horn players named here in the video. Even though brass sections most often need restriction, too harsh actions may literally make them choke what eventually may harm their performance.

[@robbietaylor3732]

The better thing to do is to get them to turn away from the audience or find them something to play into. When you make a brass player play too quietly it will mess with their pitching and attack. Especially in the higher registers. Given the right music, longer lower notes for example, brass can fade right to nothing, and even come back with everything. But starting notes quietly can be really challenging, and makes a split much more likely. come to think of it I don't really know how to explain a split to someone that's not tried playing brass at all. It happens when you try to play a note too quietly, or without enough strength - that is actual physical strength of the players face - and can be enough to stop a less experienced player in their tracks. And please understand it is not a mark of a lesser player, it happens to everyone especially without proper warm-up.

[@auscomvic9900]

@@robbietaylor3732 Perhaps put them in an opaque box which can be acoustically remote controlled by the other players.

[@Not_Aaron_]

I feel like the question "What does the conductor actually do" is a question everyone want's to know but no one bothers to search it up

[@hanzangeles622]

When I was a kid, I thought conductors are useless and easy.

[@hamzahalasadulloh7779]

What most people don’t realize is the conductor’s biggest role in any performance happens during rehearsals. That’s where all the magical music-making happens. The conductor interprets the music by the composer through color choice, textural clarity, which melodic line to spotlight, which to subdue, how to phrase a melody in relation to other things in the music. Come performance, the conductor has done everything he needs to do and simply lead the orchestra as one coherent body of sound for the audience to appreciate.

[@DK-mq9zf]

underrated comment.

[@danshen3827]

I have much respect for them. They're like the glue that holds us all together

[@aaronqu8168]

They are like glue- You can’t always see it, but without it, everything falls apart.

[@deepakchinagi]

Very beautiful... Please add few more description... Absolutely loved it ....

[@kontrast4361]

Whether you believe they make a difference or not, they are fun to watch so much energy!

[@starchington]

This is one of the best vox videos I’ve seen. Just an expert discussing his discipline, instead of some journalism grad voxsplaining modernist design principles.

[@starchington]

You're heavily oversimplifying things (much like vox does). First of all, its not that cringey. It makes a lot of sense that the content creators at vox, as well as their audience, would be interested in classical musical in addition to whats going in on in politics, especially when what is going on is one of the worst scandals by the largest moron in U.S. political history. Why not get your mind off that with some classical music? Second of all, classical music and leftism have gone hand in hand for at least a hundred years so its not that unheard of. Ever heard of Leonard Bernstein, Phillip Glass or Britten? Furthermore, I doubt they are proposing that "us SJW" are culturally superior. Culturally superior to whom? Trump supporters? That could entirely be possible. Although I would agree with the sentiment that vox often comes off as arrogant as if they are talking down to the viewer--way down. Third of all, saying classical music celebrates western culture is like saying the genre of history painting celebrates western culture. Sure, it is a genre in a medium both developed by artists of the western world and therefore depicted myths, stories, and history of cultures in the western canon but that doesn't mean those stories themselves didn't critique or warn against harmful trends in their own society's like many stories in the Bible, or Greek tragedies or epics, or even contemporary parables. Can we really say Goya's Third of May 1808, or Izaguirre's Torture of Cuauhtémoc, or Litz' Faust's Symphony, or the Rites of Spring are celebrating western culture? Yes, they are triumphs of western culture but they also reveal something brutal, animalistic, and sinful of western civilization. Do you think liberals would hate Goya, Izaguirre, Litz or Stravinsky? No. As the genres of classical music or history painting grew into the 19th and early 20th century they were adopted by artists who would use them to push their own modern world views, whether they were "non-westerners," modernists, cubists, liberals, fascists, or conservatives. Thats just how all art operates: the artist comes to the work which carries expected notions of the form but the artist ultimately subverts them through their own personal experiences and views of the world. This means there is a lot of artwork which would be in traditional western genres that would lean liberal in their message. To assume that someone who might lean liberal hates art it is to simplify them into a "baddie" like some sort of saturday morning cartoon. Fortunately, the world is more complex than that, which means we get the pleasure of listening and conversing who enjoy similar things but will have differing perception of it and can make us think of things we wouldn't see at first. Have a nice day.

[@TheLazarus911]

yo dog you gotta simplify your message nobody wants to read this garbled up nonsense. Make it like 4-6 sentences max, get the main points out.

[@starchington]

i mean that was part of the point but.... Ok ill try to be more concise but vox videos and tweets are never gonna convey enough

[@gavinkemp7920]

I'd disagree actually. I don't think it was a very good video. I didn't learn much from this video and i'm still confused in what their roles is exactly. the way he was explaining it make it sound like he's personalizing the music but he didn't clearly say that and it seem to contradict some of his other points. I don't understand why the conductor gets applauded personally, i don't understand why musicians can't simply memorize their whole piece with both the notes and the volume after all that what most musicians do. and finally i still don't know what make a good conductor. an expert discussing his discipline is rarely a good way to teach people because those experts don't realise the amount of knowledge they have that we don't. vulgarisation is importante when talking to a general audience.that where earworm is very good. yes it not helpful for experts of the field but that not the target audience.

[@cellobuddy251]

As an orchestral musician myself, you can't have an orchestra without a conductor. There are definitely examples of orchestras without conductors say Mozart conducting and playing piano at the same time, but in most cases, an orchestra would not be able to play together whether it be personal egos or not being able to know when someone is coming in or not. A singular person conducting the music stands as an example of expression for everyone. He keeps players in check if they're off (they often are but professionals rarely do), controls the intensity of the dynamics, ends phrases, begins phrases, etc. I'm not bashing you, gavin, for not understanding, but hopefully I can help explain your confusion. For example, there are a lot of nuances in tempo in classical music. From rubato, to simple, non specific tempos such as moderato, allegro, andante, and largo. It's up to the conductor to set the pace of a piece and inevitably control it. There's a sort of joke about conductors having the biggest egos in the orchestra because well, they are expressing themselves while also realizing the music which everyone has to follow or face chaos and sloppy hits. I hope that clears things up for you. Feel free to say otherwise.

[@cale-mq6dp]

So this guy plays the horn.

[@ren.pfa.99]

as far as I know, to be a conductor you need to be able to play multiple musical instruments. so he probably does play the horn, but not just it.

[@richardhoenich9338]

Actually, Jim is a very talented bassoonist. It was his major before he focused on conducting.

[@thomasnewton8223]

He is right tho about the horn, it’s very fragile

[@clolton]

he could play my horn

[@currencyaudio]

And a guitarist! We grew up together playing everything from Primus to Metallica to Red Hot Chili Peppers

[@danielzha7826]

What really matters is what a conductor does offstage training the orchestra to get the sound and rhythm he wants.

[@mayashemesh6382]

that was beautiful and very informetive. thank you.

[@phildf6922]

Long story short: conductors give time signature, tempo, dynamics and entrance of sections

[@brianbethea3069]

Plus a lot more than that, which is what the video was describing. Emotion, phrasing, feel, tone color, etc. And their main job is to be an interpreter of the score, and to guide the ensemble through that interpretation. Conductors do a lot more than just keep an ensemble together.

[@annachase4715]

I love especially when the hair of the conductor flops around😂😂

[@Redorgreenful]

Who could you be talking about? 😂😂😂

[@cheesetouch1634]

Dudamel i guess

[@PlanetYokoshima]

I was kinda disappointed this video of all of others Vox have is so short and a little informative in comparison _-_ but I'm glad they put this important topic to the public so more people know.

[@jaowashingtune8729]

thank you for taking the time to explain!

[@allisonmachado3925]

Band kids are quaking

[@imtryingiswear97]

aye m8

[@norika2965]

Orchestra kids to >_

[@mara-qp1kv]

Haha

[@taylor8117]

Especially the drum majors

[@ericknyoro6469]

he forgot to mention that he went to Hogwarts

[@milkncookie]

They dance with a baton while having their backs turned to the audience.

[@flix250]

Haha! No.

[@MRINDIA-pd6rz]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😇

[@ChowmutLe]

Man vox is incredible. Learning cool things all the time because of them.

[@hoodedswan3013]

As a non-fan of orchestral music, I greatly enjoyed this video. Whenever a creative person talks about their art...

[@joeplavin]

Hooded Swan there’s a lot of great orchestral music out there, give it a try.

[@CalTxDude]

I enjoy it too! He reminds me of the fantastic gentleman who invited me to a personal "Orchestral Music Appreciation (Tutorial)"! He volunteered to do it for my birthday one year! It was great fun And the beginning of a love affair with great music, all kinds! He was exactly what this gentleman described! Let the music represent itself, while also reminding & encouraging us to have FUN!

[@CalTxDude]

Indeed, creative people talking about their art Is pure and un smashed love & passion!

[@angelarrieche6427]

"I don't believe in jumping around during a symphony" Dudamel: Hold my arepa. P.D. PLEASE go see his conduction of the 4th movement of Dvorak's 9th symphony. You won't regret it.

[@Redorgreenful]

I ain't even mad. Arepas are delicious. I will gladly hold one for him 😂

[@RSP13]

HAHAHHA. OMG

[@verenameli9095]

Yeesss that video is sooo great 😂😂😂😂

[@EvelynGaunt]

I was scrolling through the comments as the video was playing and I read your comment at the exact time he said it in the video🤯

[@krissveismanis990]

He said very clearly that he doesn't believe in jumping around during BRUCKNER'S symphony. Have you not got ears?

[@hanahclaudia]

A Conductor makes the beautiful energy of the sound flows around the environment. If we could see the colors flying through their hands, we could see the notes dancing in this flow of energy.

[@adfmo2195]

I have a masters degree in Choral Conducting so I was watching this with an immense amount of scrutiny. That said, I absolutely agree that the conductors main job is to do justice to the composer as any musicians main job is to serve the music... it would’ve been nice if they included some choral conductors in this video like Robert Shaw, Rene Clausen, Sandra Snow, Eric Whitacre. Choral conductors also rarely use a baton, so highlighting choral conducting techniques as well would’ve give the viewer a broader education on the topic.

[@jslasher1]

As a left-handed conductor I wave my baton in a reverse beat. Elmer Bernstein and Paavo Berglund are two such conductors, who were/are highly respected by orchestras. Dr William Steinberg once remarked that 'the most difficult thing about conducting is getting the job'.

[@andreakenny7268]

Excellent! Dancing & Grooving with sensitivity! Me like. x

[@PineappleRoadzo]

This video was an amazing explanation of what they do. Awesome!!

[@FernandoRobles7]

As a violinist for 9 years having many different conductors, this video is very much on point! The way the conductor conducts IS how the orchestra plays.

[@ToriKo_]

Soooo... What was the answer to the title?

[@victoria4]

Tori Ko I haven’t watched the video but they basically control the speed and give cues for the music.

[@heyguesswhat2414]

Keeping time and vibe

[@heyguesswhat2414]

And sometimes casting spells if need be (you never know)

[@ToriKo_]

Victoria does the sheet music do that? I know nothing of music so explain this like you're talking to a 5 year old

[@94gamerboy]

Tori Ko the video is misleading. The majority of their job is completed during rehearsal. Every piece of music is interpreted differently by a conductor and he instructs the orchestra during rehearsal on how exactly they want it played. By the time the of the actual performance the orchestra knows how the conductor wants it played and has little to do when he finally gets on stage. The musicians occasionally glance at the conductor during the performance to be reminded of certain cues but really not necessary. IDK why the video didn't address this.

[@XpRnz]

Nice, i kinda get it and i really admire him humbling himself at the end. Great video!

[@richarddeleon3558]

Beautiful,instructive, revealing, thanks.

[@thewabbitemu8997]

Leaving woodwinds out😢😢😢

[@reevecoble1812]

Lol I saw in another comment that his main instrument is bassoon, tho

[@acat8310]

because they're so good they don't even need a conductor lmao

[@Saturn-uz6jc]

Love the topics Vox comes up with. So unusual and interesting. I wonder where they get their ideas from.

[@sunhee545]

Music is so complicated---much love!

[@dojosteezmastah]

thank you so much for this

[@thevioletskull8158]

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

[@sciencmath]

No, thevioletskull, mayonnaise is not an instrument. Horseradish is not an instrument either.

[@thevioletskull8158]

@@sciencmath lol

[@mho...]

well, mayonaise is instrumental for fastfood worldwide!

[@satyre_1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2bNn5mqd7aqaLc hahahah

[@satyre_1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp23dqWvbKiMi7s and...

[@howieisbored]

I would say, on the day of the performance, the conductor's job is much less integral as compared to the actual rehearsals and hours upon hours of preparation leading up to the said performance.

[@JulietteTsvigun]

Thank you for this. Very informative.

[@OBrienDesigns]

You don't realize how important your conductor is until you we have to attempt to practice without one directing you

[@feeleaf]

I genuinely read the title as, "conductor genuinely dies on stage"

[@AlexBallMusic]

Did the Electric Light Orchestra use a conductor?

[@declanglynn419]

Alex Ball Jeff Lynne

[@gzsandiego]

He was only used part of the time... He was a semiconductor

[@AlexBallMusic]

Gabe Zorbas Nice. I nearly diode with laughter.

[@evy2031]

Alex Ball I'm resistoring the urge to laugh

[@AlexBallMusic]

Evy! This post has LED to some excellent puns. Stick around, joule regret it if you don't.

[@azthetical2980]

I always thought it looked like some wizard casting a music spell lmao.

[@paulpierresahulga9101]

I was looking for this for days and KZbin did a good job😄

[@JustinY.]

Everyone knows the more hand motions = the better the music

[@simonli4484]

Justin Y. Y tho

[@danieljacobs5350]

Oh Justin Y, NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU ANYMORE ! JUST QUIT COMMENTTING IN EVERY VIDEO YOU WATCH AND JUST ENJOY THE DAMN VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bins1]

Justin Y. Hoo Lee Sheet you're here again

[@brandomontes]

Quz Y Calm down. There’s really no need to be upset.

[@pmm1767]

Quz Y you wouldn't comment here if you didn't care

[@CuriosityCulture]

The conductors are the real mvps of music ❤️

[@AakashKalaria]

They add a visual flavor but I still feel it's placebo.

[@roflmao9999]

no. musicians are the real mvps.

[@rodigoduterte9192]

Everyone involved is the real MVP, no competition :)

[@chenyanhao676]

Aakash Kalaria they are there to rehearse the music, these symphonies are extremely complex and no one stray band of rag-tagged musicians can just get together and play cohesively. Someone needs to be at the podium

[@rdaevi6129]

Nah conductors are useless, the real MVPs are the Composers and players. Just tell them all when to start

[@jeffreym68]

Thank you. That was fascinating. I now want to know more!

[@lauramaririn]

0:54 Samson et Dalila, Act III Scene II: Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns Give it a listen I promise you won’t regret it

[@prateek752]

Thank you I was searching for this

[@venkatjayadeepj1342]

These are the type of videos we want!!!

[@AceVincentSevilla]

Here in the Philippines, conductors are the ones collecting the jeepney fares and telling the passengers the route of the ride.

[@gigipineda4052]

HAHAHAHA pota

[@runescaper1333]

Putek umiinom ako ng kape, biglang nabasa ko to

[@gae8330]

Also in Britain you call them conductor Conductor has two meanings btw

[@imnotgonnasay3612]

Thanks! I was totally curious!

[@elizabethferguson7002]

Thank you for the information. You answered my questions in less than 5 minutes. Now I can comfortably research having been given the basic building blocks Great Post...Thank You

[@maranathashalom9402]

It's as if the musicians are fairy dust and the conductor is a magician who brings them to life with his spells.