The craft of conducting – the basics
Video 12 – Time to BE the music
Teacher music resource developed by The Arts Unit
Embedded Files
Video 12 and supplementary materials
Video 12 and supplementary materials
NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble
In Video 12 we use the Frescobaldi Toccata to reinforce and develop your overall conducting skills.
The music is broken up into its sections, and analysed from a conducting perspective, its stylistic contrasts explored and demonstrated at every stage.
Before we begin, enjoy this video of the Gaspar Cassado setting of the Toccata by Girolamo Frescobaldi with cellist Mstislav Rostroprovich.
Mstislav Rostropovich - Frescobaldi - Toccata
Duration: 04:43Time to BE the music
Time to BE the music
Video 12: Time to BE the music
Duration: 28:51Time to BE the music - video chapter markers
You may like to use the video chapter marker timings to review and revise areas of interest. Select the collapsible text arrow to view.
Please note: chapter markers are also provided on the video.
0:38 - Score preparation
1:33 - Toccata by Frescobaldi: an introduction
4:00- Some guideposts to focus your conducting
5:10 - Section 1 Grave: conducting points
8:30 - Section 1 Grave: a demonstration
10:00 - Section 2 Allegro Giusto: conducting points
14:00 - Section 2 Allegro Giusto: a demonstration
15:20 - Section 3 Tranquillo: conducting points
19:33 - Section 3: a demonstration
20:44 - Section 4 Grave: conducting points
23:44 - Section 4 Grave: a demonstration
25:00 - Section 5 Allegro Giusto Finale: Conducting points
26:07 - Section 5 Allegro Giusto Finale: a demonstration
26:36 - Time to reflect and wrap things up.
Download and print a copy of either the melody excerpt or piano reduction for Toccata and refer to it during the video.
Give full reign to your emotions and learn to conduct it YOUR WAY.
Above all, have fun!
Video 12 Toccata - Melody excerpt.pdfThe 3 natural laws of musical expression
The 3 natural laws of musical expression
The 3 natural laws of musical expression are:
Low searches for high - the mind energizes the movement of notes in a forward direction (journey) as it searches for a high note or a point of repose.
High searches for low - the greater the delay that prolongs tension before the point of repose, the greater the emotional reaction from the individual musician, ensemble, and audience.
Short looks for long - the concept of the ‘dotted eighth – sixteenth’ and ‘today’ for example.
Examples
Examples
Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long
Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long
Stephen Williams
Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long.
Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long.
See how you can apply this to these excerpts:
'Abide With Me' - Traditional hymn
‘Jesus Loves Me’ - Traditional hymn
'Song Without Words' by Ralph Vaughan Williams
'My Bonny Boy' by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Enjoy
Enjoy
Mr Bean takes over conducting a Salvation Army band at Christmas.
Watch this hilarious clip from the classic Merry Christmas Mr Bean. Rowan Atkinson conducting the Salvation Army Brass Band – so funny, but in essence, his gestures are great, and so appropriate!
Salvation Army Carols | Mr. Bean Official
Duration: 03:11Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
"Verdi_Requiem 008" by pennstatenews is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
NSW PS Symphonic Wind Ensemble image, photographer: Anna Warr.
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