If everyone has sheet music and all the timing information down, then what’s the composer’s role?
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Depends on the composer, they may be trying to hit a piñata, kill a fly, playing baseball, or pointing at something. Composing music is not easy, they need a way to come up with ideas, the stick might help.
But if you mean conductor:
*The primary duties of the conductor are to interpret the score in a way that reflects the specific indications in that score, set the tempo, ensure correct entries by ensemble members, and “shape” the phrasing where appropriate*
The way music is written down is not objective; what you as a trumpet player consider fast tempo could be different to what your violinist buddy in the back considers a fast tempo, what the drummer thinks is loud differs from what the piano player thinks is loud, and so on and so forth. Imagine fifty instruments trying to play when everyone has their own idea what fast or loud or quiet is. So, the conductor’s task is to bring a unified vision of how the piece should be played, and ensure the entire orchestra knows it. The waving of the stick is how they convey this vision to the other performers.
The composer isn’t the one waving the stick, that’s the role of the conductor. The conductor acts as a single objective metronome for all players to follow. This is useful for two reasons. First, each player’s inner metronome might be off just a little bit, and it’s helpful for them to have a guide. Second, orchestras are usually so large that there is usually a large sound delay between players at opposite ends. This means that if the players on one end sync their playing to when they hear the music from the other end, they’re actually going to be playing a bit later because sound doesn’t travel instantly.
The composer’s role is to compose the musical piece that will be played by the orchestra.
The CONDUCTOR, will set the tempo of the piece with his baton. They will also “bring in” specific players or soloists by cuing them with said baton.
When there are changes to the piece, either in tempo or emphasis, the orchestra members will, again, take their cues from the conductor’s baton.
The reason that the conductor is the one who sets the tempo is best summed up with an old musician’s joke . . .
How can you tell when a drummer is knocking at your door?
The speed of the knocks gets faster.
The composer isn’t the one waving the stick, that’s the role of the conductor. The conductor acts as a single objective metronome for all players to follow. This is useful for two reasons. First, each player’s inner metronome might be off just a little bit, and it’s helpful for them to have a guide. Second, orchestras are usually so large that there is usually a large sound delay between players at opposite ends. This means that if the players on one end sync their playing to when they hear the music from the other end, they’re actually going to be playing a bit later because sound doesn’t travel instantly.
Depends on the composer, they may be trying to hit a piñata, kill a fly, playing baseball, or pointing at something. Composing music is not easy, they need a way to come up with ideas, the stick might help.
But if you mean conductor:
*The primary duties of the conductor are to interpret the score in a way that reflects the specific indications in that score, set the tempo, ensure correct entries by ensemble members, and “shape” the phrasing where appropriate*
The person waving the stick is a conductor. A composer is the one who wrote the music.
The sheet music is a set of instructions to the musicians. One of the conductor’s job is to make sure the musicians play in unison. They musicians have to start together, play together, and end together. Also, the conductor is like a sound board technician. They can alter the EQ or “equalizer” by telling some sections to play louder and softer at a certain point to enhance the music or feeling. It’s like adding more bass, mid-voices, or more treble on a sound system.
The way music is written down is not objective; what you as a trumpet player consider fast tempo could be different to what your violinist buddy in the back considers a fast tempo, what the drummer thinks is loud differs from what the piano player thinks is loud, and so on and so forth. Imagine fifty instruments trying to play when everyone has their own idea what fast or loud or quiet is. So, the conductor’s task is to bring a unified vision of how the piece should be played, and ensure the entire orchestra knows it. The waving of the stick is how they convey this vision to the other performers.
Everyone has the sheet music, but they have to play at the same tempo, and raise and lower volumes, there may be parts that slow down, speed up, some instruments aren’t played, so they’d need to know exactly when to restart playing, or stop. Or to say, trumpets are getting louder right now, so start and louder, louder, okay, loud enough. The hand signals are interpreted by the musicians after a lot of practice.
The consuctor brings it all together using a silent language that the band understands and communicates with. Someone may be playing off beat or tone, he’s signalling them to correct them.
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The sheet music is technical, the conductor combines it and brings it together
Edit: conductor, not composer
The composer’s role is to compose the musical piece that will be played by the orchestra.
The CONDUCTOR, will set the tempo of the piece with his baton. They will also “bring in” specific players or soloists by cuing them with said baton.
When there are changes to the piece, either in tempo or emphasis, the orchestra members will, again, take their cues from the conductor’s baton.
The reason that the conductor is the one who sets the tempo is best summed up with an old musician’s joke . . .
How can you tell when a drummer is knocking at your door?
The speed of the knocks gets faster.
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