Hello Steve, then you know perfectly whom I had in mind when I mentioned the rare hidden gems, - people like you, people who love the music and people whos heart beats at the right place & in the right rhythm.
There are a lot of conductor careers, jump started careers, promoted by a clever crew of public relation people. And they get their 20%, so they push the salaries up. But some conductors cannot be sold in certain countries - dont think rassistic, as the Arabs do not listen to our music and special the fanatics refuse to attend or allow concerts (see Taliban etc.). Some conductors cannot be sold because they have not any market value there no matter how much their value might be in your or in my country. Some of these pushed figures fall on their nose sooner or later (ask them what note you have to play in a Verdi opera - see transposition to Ab-basso ???), but some get along with the musicians in a clever friendly way, absorbing any given information by the musicians, capable to use these info for themselves & their conducting, well, these might make their way up & are most welcome to us. Interesting might be, that a lot of very successful and good conductors are jewish. Why ? Jews had to assimilate themselves everywhere they went or where they were pushed to. They spoke two languages from the beginning (Jiddish & the local language). Language skill sharpens the brain. Assimilating requires to be very sensitive. All prerequisites for that job infront of the orchestra. And, many jewish families keep traditions of music making themselves at home over the centuries (at least playing the piano). And special the German jews, they kept the German culture high, kept the music tradition very high, and literature - even in the diaspora. But for the others, dont fraternisate with them. If they make you trouble you honestly dont deserve, watch for their defects & never help them if they get in trouble. Play as they conduct (wordly !), so they will disappear after a while. ============================================================ ============================================================ ========== -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Freides Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 3:28 PM To: 'The Horn List' Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Conductors etc Hans, I did not respond because I think you stated the case very well. A good conductor must posses everything you suggest and, again as you suggest, many lack that all-important ability to inspire, to embue a performance with the kind of life that will bring the best out of the players and move an audience. I will also add that I have seen conductors who err in the other direction, as it were - they attempt to emote but lack musicianship, lack an understanding of the music they are conducting, or both, and their efforts seem superficial and insubstantial as a result. Unfortunately, in conducting more than in most other areas of musical endeavor, talent, hard work, and good results do not always lead to success. At least it seems this way to me - in a blind audition behind a curtain, the best player should prevail, but conductors are hired by much less direct processes. Because I went through music school as a conductor, I have had the opportunity to watch the careers of several of my colleagues, all of whom shall remain nameless here; suffice it to say that I have seen at least one very talented, hard-working individual achieve a career but only relatively minor success, while another who is a charlatan by measure of almost everyone who has either known him or played under him has risen to the top ranks of the profession, achieving his success, so far as I have been able to determine, by other means. Such is the way life works sometimes, I'm sad to say. Disclaimer, lest someone think my rant is some sort of "sour grapes" - I went through school as a choral conducting major with no aspirations of a career as a conductor. I am a theory and ear-training specialist and taught those subjects at the college level even before my doctorate was completed. Going through college as a conducting major was much more interesting than doing it as a theory major - I got to conduct a recital for my doctoral degree instead of having to write a thesis - how good is _that_? :) I have done one conducting engagement per year for the last several decades, a small professional choir hired for the Jewish High Holy Days (just finished) at a large congregation in suburban Philadelphia. I just finished my 27th year as conductor and every year feel completely humbled by the task of doing everything within my power at rehearsals and performances to make the music the most inspirational and moving it can be. I don't ever feel I've "gotten it right" but I find the process of trying to improve my own ability to, in turn, improve the performances a noble pursuit and one I look forward to each year. -S- _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
