I do wonder why just one person though - couldn’t it be more distributed to avoid all the ego bullshit conductors seem to almost inavoidably suffer from?
Oh, don’t worry about that. The inflated egos are distributed across all the musicians too. It takes a special kind of personality to achieve that level of singular proficiency.
I think it’s one other reason to HAVE a conductor, is to have an ultimate authority on some matters where musicians egos get involved.
In many (most?) compositions, there are going to be some banger little licks in many different sections. It honestly kinda sucks sometimes when you’ve got one… but you gotta hold it back because it’s still just a supporting component. To you, as the musician… you might fall in love with it, wanna push it, take the opportunity to shine and generate some goosebumps. And, obviously, since you’re God’s gift to the world, you SHOULD. The composer was WRONG to hit you with a mp. Maybe the composer’s French Horns couldn’t lead with it, but they never envisioned your talent.
The trumpets shoot you a look to calm down? Fuck 'em. They always get the spotlight.
Having a structure with an ego to rule all egos helps (does NOT eliminate) these kinds of things.
Haha as a child of musicians - you are so right about the egos. Great writing too. I still think/dream that an anarchist orchestra could work, with appropriate rethinking of the whole musical career climb crap… Someday, maybe, people will play for joy, and just to share that joy with each other and with others. No doucherie needed or encouraged.
I do wonder why just one person though - couldn’t it be more distributed to avoid all the ego bullshit conductors seem to almost inavoidably suffer from?
Oh, don’t worry about that. The inflated egos are distributed across all the musicians too. It takes a special kind of personality to achieve that level of singular proficiency.
I think it’s one other reason to HAVE a conductor, is to have an ultimate authority on some matters where musicians egos get involved.
In many (most?) compositions, there are going to be some banger little licks in many different sections. It honestly kinda sucks sometimes when you’ve got one… but you gotta hold it back because it’s still just a supporting component. To you, as the musician… you might fall in love with it, wanna push it, take the opportunity to shine and generate some goosebumps. And, obviously, since you’re God’s gift to the world, you SHOULD. The composer was WRONG to hit you with a mp. Maybe the composer’s French Horns couldn’t lead with it, but they never envisioned your talent.
The trumpets shoot you a look to calm down? Fuck 'em. They always get the spotlight.
Having a structure with an ego to rule all egos helps (does NOT eliminate) these kinds of things.
Haha as a child of musicians - you are so right about the egos. Great writing too. I still think/dream that an anarchist orchestra could work, with appropriate rethinking of the whole musical career climb crap… Someday, maybe, people will play for joy, and just to share that joy with each other and with others. No doucherie needed or encouraged.