At 8:24 AM -0500 2/11/12, David H. Bailey wrote: > >Interesting -- in my experience that sort of thing requires explanation >since people are confused about what is happening and whether they >should follow my left hand or the stick.
Our community band conductor has as clear a stick as anyone in the business, but the same thing still happens not only in this case (a held note with moving parts), but in the case of a held note followed by a pickup to the next measure by SOMEONE that isn't indicated in the parts. THAT is a case where a cued note would help a lot. But it takes a series of explanations every time. Off Topic, but perhaps illustrating what can actually be done. One of my mentors in grad school, Fiora Contino, had been assigned to conduct an opera while still a grad student (quite unusual at Indiana, who prided themselves on presenting a full scale opera production every weekend during the academic year). There was an offstage chorus in one scene. They had a TV hookup, they had an offstage assistant conductor, but nothing worked, and the chorus was always behind the beat. So Fiora told them, "Orchestra, watch my right hand. Chorus, watch my left hand, and I'll conduct a half-beat ahead for you." And she did. AND IT WORKED!!! Opera is weird! John -- John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music Virginia Tech Department of Music School of Performing Arts & Cinema College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences 290 College Ave., Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:john.how...@vt.edu) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html "Machen Sie es, wie Sie wollen, machen Sie es nur schön." (Do it as you like, just make it beautiful!) --Johannes Brahms _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
