Culture: Art: Theatre: Musical
More freedom of movement for orchestra conductors   (+12)  [vote for, against]
Dance!

Orchestra conductors flail and point, grimacing and gurning, swaying and leaning. Really they are doing a little interpretive dance, confined to the podium.

I propose that the role of conductor be expanded by stretching the podium out, and possibly into the orchestra via catwalks. The conductor can now get his or her feet into it - jumping, running, rolling and kicking feet in the air, and doing all the dancy things previously impossible on the confines of the podium.

Another alternative might be to strap the conductor in a harness to allow him to jump and fly over his performers, the better to emphasize and connote how the music is supposed to be.
-- bungston, Mar 11 2017

Leopold!
-- RayfordSteele, Mar 12 2017


The score is going to have to follow the maestro around somehow.
-- lurch, Mar 12 2017


What about putting the conductor in one of those skydiving simulators ? They have transparent walls, so the musicians can see the baton ... the score could be on a HUD display in the helmet visor ?
-- 8th of 7, Mar 12 2017


I love this. My now deceased brother-in-law was a conductor. A brilliant man, and very kind in nature, by the way. I would have enjoyed seeing him making his way thru the woodwinds, yelling "louder, louder, louder, you ass", whilst slapping them with his baton. Bravo [bungston], bravo.
-- blissmiss, Mar 12 2017


A semiconductor you mean?
-- nineteenthly, Mar 13 2017


[blissy] you crack me up!
-- whatrock, Mar 13 2017


// seeing him making his way thru the woodwinds, yelling "louder, louder, louder, you ass", whilst slapping them with his baton. //

<Ponders on mental image of conductor, in top hat, red coat and riding boots and britches, wielding chair and whip, facing down a particularly combative bassoonist>
-- 8th of 7, Mar 13 2017


Strangely enough, my late nephew Theophalt was an excellent conductor. Of course he only found out during that thunderstorm.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 14 2017


//Of course he only found out during that thunderstorm.//

As a certain renowned Baker tells us, 'resistance is useless.'
-- AusCan531, Mar 14 2017


Ahem, "Resistance is Futile" ...
-- 8th of 7, Mar 15 2017


Can the orchestra create a new score on the fly? A work initiated by conductor movement of a enjoyed score, via the feeling, skill and knowledge of orchestral musicians.

The motion of slapping woodwinds would definitely be in the percussion section's hands.
-- wjt, Mar 15 2017



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