Editing Conducting (section)

{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}
{{Short description|Directing a musical performance}}{{Not to be confused with|Conductor (rail)}}[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R92264, Herbert von Karajan.jpg|thumb|[[Herbert von Karajan]] conducting in 1941]]
'''Conducting''' is the art of directing a [[music]]al [[performance]], such as an [[orchestra]]l or [[Choir|choral]] [[concert]]. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture."<ref>Sir [[George Grove]], [[John Alexander Fuller Maitland]], eds. (1922). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=YgBKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA588#v=twopage&q=conducting%20dictionary A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Volume 1]'', p. 581. Macmillan.</ref> The primary duties of the '''conductor''' are to interpret the [[Sheet music|score]] in a way that reflects the specific indications in that score, set the [[tempo]], ensure correct entries by [[Musical ensemble|ensemble]] members, and "shape" the [[musical phrasing|phrasing]] where appropriate.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Conducting|title=Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music|first1=Michael|last1=Kennedy|author-link1=Michael Kennedy (music critic)|first2=Joyce|last2=Bourne Kennedy|edition=Fifth|publisher=Oxford University Press, Oxford|date=2007|isbn=9780199203833|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/conciseoxforddic2007kenn}}</ref> Conductors communicate with their musicians primarily through hand gestures, usually with the aid of a [[Baton (conducting)|baton]], and may use other gestures or signals such as facial expression and eye contact.<ref name=CambComp3>{{cite book|last=Holden|first=Raymond|chapter=The technique of conducting|page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00bowe/page/3 3]|editor-last=Bowen|editor-first=José Antonio|title=The Cambridge Companion to Conducting|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|location=Cambridge|date=2003|isbn=0-521-52791-0|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00bowe/page/3}}</ref> A conductor usually supplements their direction with verbal instructions to their musicians in [[rehearsal]].<ref name=CambComp3 />

The conductor typically stands on a raised [[podium]] with a large music stand for the full score, which contains the [[musical notation]] for all the instruments or voices. Since the mid-19th century, most conductors have not played an instrument when conducting, although in earlier periods of [[classical music]] history, leading an ensemble while playing an instrument was common. In [[Baroque music]], the group would typically be led by the [[harpsichord]]ist or first violinist ([[concertmaster]]), an approach that in modern times has been revived by several [[music director|music directors]] for music from this period. Conducting while playing a [[piano]] or [[synthesizer]] may also be done with [[musical theatre]] [[pit orchestra]]s. Instrumentalists may perform challenging works while conducting - for instance, it is not uncommon to see a pianist perform a [[concerto]] while also conducting the orchestra. Communication is typically non-verbal during a performance. However, in rehearsals, frequent interruptions allow the conductor to give verbal directions as to how music should be performed.

Conductors act as guides to the orchestras or choirs they conduct. They choose the works to be performed and study their scores, to which they may make certain adjustments (such as in tempo, articulation, phrasing, repetitions of sections), work out their interpretation, and relay their vision to the performers. They may also attend to organizational matters, such as scheduling rehearsals,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-conductor-2456662|title=The Conductor|author=Espie Estrella|date=6 March 2017|website=thoughtco.com|access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref> planning a concert season, hearing [[audition]]s and selecting members, and promoting their ensemble in the media. Orchestras, choirs, [[concert band]]s, and other sizable musical ensembles, such as [[big band]]s are usually led by conductors.