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From: Category: Art Date: 26 June 2008 Time: 04:01 AM Review: IMHO 1. What do classical musicians do? Bring the written pieces of other fellow musicians (composers) to life. The musicians recreate/reconstruct the musical ideas of the compositions into actual physical sound. Think of a whole tapestry of sound, knitted by different sound elements in shades (can be thousands, more or less) and lengths, floating in space. Live performance, physically, is a journey in sound starting from silence and to end in silence. Ephemeral. 2. Why does the orchestra need the conductor, practically? - Compositions written for large scale orchestra/choir (standard example: between 50 up to 100 members or more) are often complicated in structure and sound texture. -While individual musician can listen to and execute/shape well their sound quality on their own and/or in small groups, it would be extremely difficult for them to be completely aware of other layers/nuance/balance of a whole greater sound in bigger settings. They need someone with good ears/great communicating skills there to help them to adjust both in sound balance and timing of sound producing process. 3. What does a conductor do, in general Two steps (simplified) -First, the conductor should be able to understand the content/essence of the music he/she is going to reproduce with the orchestra. -Second, he/she would be able to inspire/convince/encourage/direct the orchestra to execute the actual sound/time/space/emotions in order to bring out the musical vision perceived from step one. Hell a lot as a job. 4. Can musicians loose his/her individuality or to be annoyed by becoming a part of an orchestra/collective performing someone else's composition under the direction of a wild-haired-hands-waving man? Yes and No -Yes if they refuse their right to life, so to speak, and view their position as a routine job and respond to music mechanically or automatically (happens too often). -No if they understand that composers-players(including conductors)-audience are just different parts of a continuous creation. Musicians that I know often mention about the sharing/communicating quality of music and also state that the sense of urgency/fluidity of recreating-life-on-spot together during live performances is the most liberating experience.