The craft of conducting – the basics

Video 12 – Time to BE the music

Teacher music resource developed by The Arts Unit

Video 12 and supplementary materials

Conductor Stephen Williams with the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
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: 04:43

Time to BE the music

Time 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.pdf
Video 12 Toccata - Piano Reduction.pdf

The 3 natural laws of musical expression

The 3 natural laws of musical expression are:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Short looks for long - the concept of the ‘dotted eighth – sixteenth’ and ‘today’ for example.

Examples

Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long

Stephen Williams
Exercises for 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
Abide With Me traditionl hymn excerpt - Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long
‘Jesus Loves Me’ - Traditional hymn
Jesus Loves Me traditional hymn - Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long
'Song Without Words' by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Song Without Words by Ralph Vaughan Williams excerpt - Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long
'My Bonny Boy' by Ralph Vaughan Williams
'My Bonny Boy' by Ralph Vaughan Williams excerpt - Low goes to high, high goes to low, short goes to long

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: 03:11

Third-party content attributions

  • NSW PS Symphonic Wind Ensemble image, photographer: Anna Warr.