The role of the conductor and my memories

[Spatula]

The role of the conductor,
well he/she looks like the one that has it the 2nd hardest besides the pianist in a concerto.  
I think the dude with the triangle probably has the easiest time in the performance.

I kinda wonder how conductors move their arms in that fashion...if it's something that's taught or part of their style.  I know some very basic ones because I was in an elementary school band and the conductor wore tight ass jeans everyday which always lowered the morale of the class.  I played trumpet, and when I was 11, I was like... DAMMMN!  We gotta play some star wars stuff!  

Haha...I remember stuff like "lets go band" and all the stuff that'd make a real conductor either grin or vomit (because we came last in a high school competition, and we were the only elementary school to show up.. we got like a 5.5 outta 10.  I gotta blame that conductor, he didn't know how to make it fun, rather monotenous, and I never practiced the trumpet, because

1. It was bloody loud
2. I didn't play very well
3. I was busy taking piano at the same time
4. I'd rather practice piano any day of the week
5. I knew I was going to quit so I did.

Anyways back to the conductor.  His first concern is probably the beats and rhythm, and I've looked at orchastrale scores where the whole page is devoted to every instruement, except solo parts, but during tutti, its like looking at 50 instruments going at the same time.  I guess the conductor would (with a sane mind)...look over the score while listening to a recording before and obviously have rehearsals prior to the performance.

Hey would any of you ever dare to try and conduct say...Beethovens 5th Symphony?  Most of us know the 1st movement, but after that...I'd be waving my arms in the air...and then notice that it's like pppp...then when the finale comes I'd be like "Ahem...." but it really should be FFFF.

I think I'd love to conduct say a Rach piano concerto but I'd screw the whole orcheastra up with waving arms and farting and ... God knows what.  I'd think that'd make a pretty good episode for Tom Green or lets put Conan O'Brian up there, with umm... I dunno.. Bernhard.  

Now that's a performance I wanna see.

[rph108]

This topic doesnt make any sense. Maybe thats because im pretty drunk

[anda]

the conductor is definitely the most important person when it comes to a symphony, and the 2nd most important (after the soloist) in a concert - and i came to this conclusion after i've seen incredibly bad conductors. the conductor has to have a perfect harmonic ear in rehearsals, s/he has to hear absolutely everything, and during the performance, the conductor makes the orchestra feel good or bad - s/he has to inspire the orchestra, has to make the players want to play.  and more and more... VERY IMPORTANT PERSON!

[anda]

and about the general score... i used to study the concerts with the general score rather the 2-pianos reduction in order to know exactly who is playing what and when. it's not that hard to follow a work by the general score - try at least listening to some symphonies with the general score in front of you - useful experience.