The technic of the baton

“Conducting is the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture.” It is thus that Ralph Vaughan-Williams heads his illuminat...

A—Wrist movement in horizontal position. (With palm of the hand facing downward.) B—Wrist movement in vertical position. (With palm of the hand facing inward.) C—Fore-arm moveme...

4. The length of the arm movement varies necessarily with the length of the individual arm. The increase or decrease in the tempo also calls for changes in motion. A quick tempo...

5. The fundamental beats are described with the arm movement, while subdivisions are performed with the wrist. In this manner, a clear indication of the fundamental beat is alwa...

5. To stop in middle of strain—Raise left arm above head, with all the fingers extended, and keep it there until halt is desired. At this point, bring it down firmly and quickly.

At the conclusion of this chapter, a word or two on practice in the art of conducting may not be out of place. One might read all about the art of swimming and yet be entirely l...

One of the most important and difficult results to obtain is a clean cut and united “attaque” or start, on the part of the players. The following suggestions will aid toward an...

In his excellent article of “Conducting” in Grove’s Dictionary, Ralph Vaughan-Williams gives the following rule: “As a general rule no more strokes should be used than are absol...

To the average layman and even a great many musicians, an orchestral score appears to be about as intricate in appearance as a blue print of a complicated engine. The simile of...

There seems to be in the minds of some musicians an idea that a vast difference exists between chorus conducting and orchestra conducting. In fact, it is a very common fact that...

“_Rhythm._ What is rhythm? We all know that music moves in beats or pulses, and at regular intervals—say, at every two, three, or four beats—some of these are stressed or accent...

The physical aspect of Conducting—analysis of arm and hand movements used in conducting. A method for gaining complete mastery of the arm and hand gestures by means of practicin...

(A). The general attitude of the conductor, Ten General Rules 22 (B). Illustrations of the five fundamental positions used in conducting 23 (C). Diagrams of gestures used in con...

Some Special Problems of Baton Technic. Alla breve or four-four? Phrase-groups in fast one-in-a-bar time. Uneven measures in one-in-a-bar time. Method of practising complex rhyt...