In Reply to: think about the conductor... posted by hifitommy on July 20, 2012 at 15:44:44:
In most cases, we musicians are trying to blend our individual sounds into something greater than the sum of our parts. At the same time, silly people who value "pinpoint imaging" are doing their best to render our efforts moot with regards to their own intended perceptions. I pity those silly ones, for they've not only missed the point, they're happily sprinting further away from it every chance they get.
No, the conductor of an orchestra is in a position to "get a job done", but not necessarily in the best position to "be moved by the music". Same is true for every musician in the orchestra. Still, we work hard to adjust our hearing in situations like that, so that indeed we can "perceive" that whole that is greater than its individual bits (us, in fact). In a tough crowd like this, it's easy to become discouraged.
Unless visuals and stage placement are integral to a composition/performance, the entire audience would be doing themselves a favor by closing their eyes (and silencing all internal dialog in their heads). When it comes to "pure music", both sight and conscious thought are two of the most destructive distractions possible.
That said, there are all sorts of "musicians" who depend a great deal on "visual impact" -- for all sorts of reasons; hardly any of which have anything to do with music itself. Often, "it's about the show", and that's fine, as long as it's acknowledged that it's not about the music. Not really.
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Follow Ups
- I disagree - willkayakforfood 16:08:50 07/20/12 (8)
- I agree to disagree but I take your point - plantsman 01:57:48 07/24/12 (0)
- RE: I disagree - Disbeliever 22:48:00 07/21/12 (4)
- In a hurry, I don't explain myself well - still, it's not nonsense - willkayakforfood 23:05:14 07/21/12 (3)
- I tend to agree - Jack G 10:00:04 07/23/12 (0)
- Critical listening - tmsorosk 06:08:51 07/22/12 (0)
- RE: In a hurry, I don't explain myself well - still, it's not nonsense - Disbeliever 00:07:49 07/22/12 (0)
- i doubt... - hifitommy 22:00:30 07/20/12 (0)
- I disagree - unclestu 16:20:01 07/20/12 (0)