Bruckner Symphony No. 4, movement 1

[billyguns2]

Maestro, with all due respect, Bruckner clearly instructs this to be conducted "alla breve": IN TWO! You are conducting this in four, changing the shape of the music, no, no! Otto Klemperer and Bruno Walter got it right.

[CameronCrazie1998]

@billyguns2 It's odd you think so - I did in fact conduct it in 2, which I agree is the correct method. In fact, this was done at a masterclass with Kurt Masur - who assigned me the piece! He never mentioned once any issue with the conducting.

[billyguns]

@CameronCrazie1998 I clearly see a 4 beat pattern. I'll have to go to the score and follow along. Yes, in 2 is correct.

[CameronCrazie1998]

@billyguns Hmm.. Well, we disagree on it then. I did, in fact, conduct in 2. It was at times a very sideways 2 in order to create the connection across bar lines that I wanted.

[billyguns]

@CameronCrazie1998 Ah, a "sideways 2." I understand, but disagree. I would conduct 2 in up and down motions and indicate the shape I wanted with the left hand, but as long as the orchestra understands what you want, it's a moot point. By the way, your orchestra sounds wonderful.

[tromboneCavender]

@billyguns2 I don't know what world you're from, but here on earth, that is a conducting pattern in two. Are you trollin?

[MrAlgykcho]

The young conductor will have a good future.

[broderrodents]

Oh, yea!

[AboAhmedr]

lovely music

[Sinfoniahorn]

conducting technique is something that the average Joe just doesnt know anything about. Claudio Abbado's technique is nothing to write home about either, but these great conductors are able to show the music, and of course have great players to conduct! Developing conducting technique is deceptively difficult. In other words, it is much much harder than people know.

[interfilly]

the horn player ends too soon playing the ending note at each part of his solo... yet this is what makes bruckner symphonies (and especially the "romantic" one) bruckner's symphonies . but it's a student orchestra and although it's technically simple you need quite a lot of experience to make a true bruckner out of it.

[laubandel]

Well the horn player plays the whole note he has to play, nothing more, and then comes the rest. MAybe this sounds surprising in such dry acosutics.

[gmonkey808]

agreed

[aunibbww]

the best part is left out :(, but what i heard was very nice :). i think ive never heard an amateur orchestra this good before.

[CameronCrazie1998]

There is another excerpt of the symphony as well. It's a student orchestra at the Manhattan School of Music, and they were a wonder to work with!

[shostamahlerbachetc]

@aunibbww i assumed it was a professioal orchestra!! wow they are really very good congratulations

[davecoleman12]

Very nice measured performance! You can hear all that's going on in the different sections during the loud passages, great to see young musicians tackling this majestic music!!..

[davecoleman12]

Nice measured performance here! well paced and you can hear all what's going on in the loud sections for a change! (How many times do I hear orchestras losing it in this initial climax). Well done!!

[Masi43]

Was wird hier über Gestik und Mimik des Dirigenten doch gestritten. Eigentlich zählt doch nur, was letztlich an Musik dabei herauskommt. Lully schlug noch mit dem Stock den Takt auf den Boden ( und in den eigenen Fuß ), Beethoven kroch bei einem Decescendo unter das Dirigierpult, R. Strauß dirigierte gelegentlich nur mit den Augen. Am liebsten hätte ich bei Beethovens Aufführungen Mäuschen gespielt. Da war immer was los!

Ich selbst bevorzuge Bernstein, aber das ist Geschmackssache.

[Masi43]

Was regt Ihr Euch so auf über Gestik und Mimik des Dirigenten? Einzig und allein zählt doch, was an Musik rauskommt.

Lully schlug noch mit dem Stock den Takt, Beethoven kroch beim Crescendo unter das Pult, Richard Strauss dirigierte oft nur mit den Augen. Bei Beethovens Aufführungen hätte ich gerne Mäuschen gespielt, muss äußerst spannend gewesen sein. Man wusste nie, was passiert im nächsten Moment. :-)

[MahlerTitan]

A very good beginning, clean, measured approach, and professional playing by the orchestra. The climax was not overdone, and the second theme was well paced and with the just amount of sentimentality.

[itsjennabetch]

i liked it.

[ovosomnes]

Well done!

[stravinskas]

The conductor is not bad actually, he has a few flaws in his technique; during the climax the orchetra is not together because of him, his litttle grimaces are also not needed for this piece..other things I can't be bothered to write now. But overall, not too bad

[Camanesco]

Flaws in his technique? C'mon (rolling eyes), what about Furtwangler's or Beecham's technique, or Klemperer's technique?

I am not comparing them with this young conductor -- what I'm saying is that good "technique" does not make a good conductor -- even Fritz Reiener knew this.

[Czerniakowska]

If little grimaces are not needed for this piece, then what pieces are they needed for? Did anyone ever see Bernstein, for example, conducting anything when his facial expression was not constantly changing and his grimaces were less than extreme? I think it's just a matter of personal style.

[Obaysch]

Having seen it, I fail to see any posturing- on the contrary he's incredibly restrained for a young conductor, and conducting the character of the music, which is his responsibility if you take on such a masterwork as the Bruckner. As to the asinine comment ridiculing the Manhattan kids playing it- well they "are" playing it, which you'd hear if your ego weren't larger than your brain. Who are you- back stand cello in some tiny orchestra in the midwest?

[BrucknerEnthusiast]

I can't see any posturing either. I know nothing about conducting, but I'd guess a conductor's gestures are going to change from one concert to the next, depending which orchestra he's working with. Great to hear young musicians tackling Bruckner; surely they are going to learn a lot from playing music like this. Sounds good to me.

[hung30306guy]

he looks like a fool posturing on the podium like that

[zoodle30]

It's because he's actually showing some emotion and is ENTERTAINING and getting a response from the orchestra. No one wants to watch a human metronome...You obviously have no clue about conduction and what it takes to be passionate about music...BRAVO MAESTRO...you look wonderful and the Bruckner is amazing!

[zoodle30]

I am correcting my own error...entertaining the audience and getting a response from the orchestra...and you have no clue about conducting...typo...in my rage

[hung30306guy]

of course I don't.... my masters in conducting means absolutely nothing..... you fool

[hung30306guy]

it's not the conductor's job to be ENTERTAINING, that is the purpose of the music

[zoodle30]

It's both...and you should feel like an ass for criticizing someone in your own profession, you're a jerk.

[ljdes]

It is always touching to hear the supreme symphonic master being attempted by students. Criticism is un-called for here.

[darahbee]

nice work boss!

[bigdonkey002]

aaaaw look at all the cute MSM kids who think they can play bruckner...

[mo1215]

IMO this director commands the orchestra with a delicacy that crescendos to sheer virtuosity. Clearly, this man is International...

[dhbailey]

Great conducting -- very responsive orchestra. Very nice performance!

[notquitehereyet]

ahh the 4th I love the 7th most of all...but the 4th also makes me happy =)

[valholler]

Man, that Viswa is a sexy MF!