Conducting without sheet music (which I now know is called a score!)

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:23am

At a Boston performance of The Sound of Music last week, I was sitting in the front row and noticed that the conductor did the entire show without sheet music. I was astonished -- but I also know I've seen way fewer shows than many people on here. Is it unusual to conduct a show without sheet music?

Updated On: 4/12/16 at 02:23 AM

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:24am

rcwr said: "At a Boston performance of The Sound of Music last week, I was sitting in the front row and noticed that the conductor did the entire show without sheet music. I was astonished -- but I also know I've seen way fewer shows than many people on here. Is it unusual to conduct a show without sheet music?"

 

Many conductors do this since they conduct the same music night after night. It's a bit risky sometimes, but certainly not unheard of.

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:26am

Thank you, ClapYo'Hands! I was so curious.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:56am

I have never seen Paul Gemignani use sheet music. One of the current conductors at The King and I doesn't have a score in front of him. either. It isn't rare or even uncommon.

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 3:17am

I'm glad to know it. Yet another reason to be impressed with conductors.

[JM226]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 8:11am

no rules to it, obviously.  there are also conductors who have been doing the same show for years and still use sheet music.  even JRB uses sheet music when conducting shows he's written. so it just all depends.. no "standard" way to it. 

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 8:31am

rcwr said: "At a Boston performance of The Sound of Music last week, I was sitting in the front row and noticed that the conductor did the entire show without sheet music. I was astonished -- but I also know I've seen way fewer shows than many people on here. Is it unusual to conduct a show without sheet music?

Just to be a bit over technical, it's a score, not sheet music.  You see it with symphony conductors as well. Many conduct well known pieces without the music, and revert to the score when conducting lessor known material.

 

"

 

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 8:52am

JM226 said: "no rules to it, obviously.  there are also conductors who have been doing the same show for years and still use sheet music.  even JRB uses sheet music when conducting shows he's written. so it just all depends.. no "standard" way to it. 

 

Although just because a conductor has the score in front of him (or her) doesn't mean he's actually referring to it regularly. Most conductors use the score as a reference point at best; except in extreme cases (like an assistant conductor being tapped to lead a performance on little-to-no rehearsal), it's very rare for a conductor to be glued to the score while conducting. 

 

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 9:21am

"Although just because a conductor has the score in front of him (or her) doesn't mean he's actually referring to it regularly. Most conductors use the score as a reference point at best; except in extreme cases (like an assistant conductor being tapped to lead a performance on little-to-no rehearsal), it's very rare for a conductor to be glued to the score while conducting."

 

I was at a show recently where a conductor (who doesn't use a tangible score) was suddenly stricken ill and was forced to leave the podium. One of the musicians had filled in as conductor on occasion abandoned his instrument and stepped into the breech for the remainder of the show - but the first chance he got, he broke out his score. As he survived the 15 minutes or so without it, he obviously didn't need it, but wanted the security blanket.

 

Brian Stokes Mithchell talks about Paul Gemignani.

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 12:28pm

Thanks everyone! I'm learning interesting things.

[nolanativeny]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 2:37pm

I heard of a ballet orchestra conductor who hasn't conducted the Nutcracker with the score in something like 20 years since he's done it so many times. I once saw a performance of Stravinsky's Firebird suite where I got to sit in a balcony behind the stage and watch the conductor, a fiery Taiwanese woman, conduct without the score. One of the most exciting concerts I have ever attended. 

[Broadway kid 2]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 4:25pm

nolanativeny said: "I heard of a ballet orchestra conductor who hasn't conducted the Nutcracker with the score in something like 20 years since he's done it so many times. I once saw a performance of Stravinsky's Firebird suite where I got to sit in a balcony behind the stage and watch the conductor, a fiery Taiwanese woman, conduct without the score. One of the most exciting concerts I have ever attended. 

 

"

I knowdiced that to at the sound of music in Boston when I went 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 4:42pm

At the Metropolitan Opera, James Levine never uses a score when he conducts Verdi's Otello.

[IronMan]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:14pm

One of the reasons why conductors use the score in front of them is that when an onstage performer makes a mistake- skips a verse or dialogue that is underscored- the conductor can tell the orchestra what measure number they should now be on.  

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:23pm

I'm amazed when musicians perform without the score. I'm thinking of something like Robber Bridegroom or Southern Comfort, where the musicians are on stage, part of the action occasionally, and are playing without music in front of them. Also, in John Doyle directed shows when the actors are also playing instruments, they are not using scores either. To me, that's got to be tough!

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:24pm

^ it's also used when there is a vamp.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:37pm

Here's London's Aurora Orchestra playing a Mozart symphony without the score - conducted and played totally from memory! 

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:41pm

JM226 said: "no rules to it, obviously.  there are also conductors who have been doing the same show for years and still use sheet music.  even JRB uses sheet music when conducting shows he's written. so it just all depends.. no "standard" way to it. 

 

"

I'm not contradicting you, but from where I sat at the Ahmanson (4th row), I could have sworn JRB was conducting BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY without a copy of the score in front of him. I say I'm not contradicting you because (a) my sightline may have been impaired and (b) it may have been the exception rather than the rule.

I will add that I have not had good impressions of composers conducting their own work. I think there's a tendency to slow the tempi down so that every little flourish is audible. But JRB's conducting of BRIDGES was brilliant!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 5:44pm

macnyc said: "I'm amazed when musicians perform without the score. I'm thinking of something like Robber Bridegroom or Southern Comfort, where the musicians are on stage, part of the action occasionally, and are playing without music in front of them. Also, in John Doyle directed shows when the actors are also playing instruments, they are not using scores either. To me, that's got to be tough!

 

 

"

I share your amazement. But if we think about it, we're not at all surprised that singers are almost universally expected to perform without reference to a score. For an experienced player, why would playing a clarinet or cello be any different?

[rcwr]

Posted: 4/12/16 at 6:09pm

GavestonPS: I share your amazement. But if we think about it, we're not at all surprised that singers are almost universally expected to perform without reference to a score. For an experienced player, why would playing a clarinet or cello be any different?

 

I'm amazed by them all.