The Conductor and the Viola Player
Even in his diminutive stature, the conductor stands above
the rest; his long, wild, curly hair tossing every which way as he gracefully
and intentionally flails his arms to and fro. He seems strangely connected and
yet separate, and to those not trained, he appears off the beat from the rest
of the orchestra, or they lagging behind. Yet in reality, he stays ever so
slightly ahead of the beat so the orchestra can follow well.
But how fascinating it is to study the members of the
orchestra! The conductor passionately cuts the atmosphere with his hands or
baton, pointing, cueing, guiding, and directing each note and each section with
precision. And yet, the musicians almost never look up at him. There may be an infrequent
glance, but almost never from the concertmaster or first violinist. The whole
of them are concentrated on the written score. Having been diligently trained
and highly disciplined, the score is enough to keep them in perfect sync. Their
focus remains intent with those infrequent gazes to their incomparable leader.
Still, he remains fixed and steady at his post, dancing and
swaying, directing each individual musician, each section of instruments, and
the whole orchestral body. He understands that in his absence, even the most
gifted and seasoned musician may fall astray and lead the others with him. The
conductor’s faithful presence is a source of security even for those who never
have to lift their eyes-their faith is rewarded by his sure presence, and they
fulfill their mission in notes and chords and measures and scores, both
individually and as a magnificent whole.
But wait! Did I neglect to tell you about the viola player?
She sits next to the concertmaster; a clear indication of her expertise. Yet,
she looks at the conductor with great frequency while she plays. It isn’t
because she needs him to direct her more than the others do--she knows her
score and its timing well. On the occasion when her instrument isn’t being played in
a piece, she moves slightly to the music, or she looks at the other
musicians and smiles--although this gesture is never returned. Or she watches the conductor with that sweet, gentle smile. It is clear, she enjoys him! She
enjoys her fellow musicians, and she relishes being a part of something so
wonderful.
The unity of the orchestra is the conductor’s great achievement.
Without the use of a single word, the strings and the woodwinds, the percussion
and brass, although so obviously different from one another, work meticulously as one to evoke emotion from hearers and move them
deeply.
After each masterfully executed piece, the audience shares
their high praise. The conductor steps down from his podium and bows slightly.
Then with great enthusiasm, he turns and points to each section, directing them
to rise and receive recognition. And they never do so without the conductor’s
direction! When the concert has ended, the audience rises to their feet in a
show of gratitude. After once again taking his bows, the conductor goes into
the sections and personally greets the musicians, shaking their hands and
congratulating them on a job well done!
(This allegory was inspired by Jeffrey Kahane, the conductor and pianist in the photo, and the NY Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center, NY.)
(This allegory was inspired by Jeffrey Kahane, the conductor and pianist in the photo, and the NY Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center, NY.)
What a beautiful blog entry Kathy Lebron. Of course any time someone writes about music I am interested. It is amazing to see the relationship between a conductor and the musicians. The unspoken things and yet the clarity, direction and unity that is formed within an orchestra or choir. Each one assigned their part and together they come together as one. Also a beautiful picture of the life of a Christian with God as our conductor. It sounds like you enjoyed a beautiful night of music at Lincoln Center. Thanks for sharing your expressions with all of us. LJ
ReplyDelete