we all have music within us and we communicate it with every gesture we
communicate it with every gesture we
communicate it with every gesture we make I’m not talking about dancers
make I’m not talking about dancers
make I’m not talking about dancers although of all people they’re probably
although of all people they’re probably
although of all people they’re probably the most aware of the intimate
the most aware of the intimate
the most aware of the intimate connection between physical movement and
connection between physical movement and
connection between physical movement and sound and I’m not just talking about
sound and I’m not just talking about
sound and I’m not just talking about conductors although obviously other
conductors although obviously other
conductors although obviously other conductor that’s going to be my starting
conductor that’s going to be my starting
conductor that’s going to be my starting point people often asked me what exactly
point people often asked me what exactly
point people often asked me what exactly does a conductor do well it’s our job to
does a conductor do well it’s our job to
does a conductor do well it’s our job to take the notes written by a composer and
take the notes written by a composer and
take the notes written by a composer and give them an emotional shape to convey
give them an emotional shape to convey
give them an emotional shape to convey the composer’s ideas to get from what’s
the composer’s ideas to get from what’s
the composer’s ideas to get from what’s in the head of say Jay s bar up there on
in the head of say Jay s bar up there on
in the head of say Jay s bar up there on his cloud or Judith who might be sitting
his cloud or Judith who might be sitting
his cloud or Judith who might be sitting in the hall behind me these ideas have
in the hall behind me these ideas have
in the hall behind me these ideas have to be transmitted through the medium of
to be transmitted through the medium of
to be transmitted through the medium of print and then filtered through my body
print and then filtered through my body
print and then filtered through my body and the bodies of the musicians I use
and the bodies of the musicians I use
and the bodies of the musicians I use gestures to draw the music out of the
gestures to draw the music out of the
gestures to draw the music out of the players or the singers in a way that I
players or the singers in a way that I
players or the singers in a way that I think conveys what the composer is
think conveys what the composer is
think conveys what the composer is trained to say now I say I think but
trained to say now I say I think but
trained to say now I say I think but actually I’m not just relying on my own
actually I’m not just relying on my own
actually I’m not just relying on my own ideas in the world of Western classical
ideas in the world of Western classical
ideas in the world of Western classical music pieces written by composers
music pieces written by composers
music pieces written by composers generally give us a very good idea of
generally give us a very good idea of
generally give us a very good idea of how to play them I’ll have a conducting
how to play them I’ll have a conducting
how to play them I’ll have a conducting score in France for me with the whole
score in France for me with the whole
score in France for me with the whole piece in it the musicians will have
piece in it the musicians will have
piece in it the musicians will have their own individual parts on their
their own individual parts on their
their own individual parts on their music stands and they’ll play what they
music stands and they’ll play what they
music stands and they’ll play what they read so not just the notes but also
read so not just the notes but also
read so not just the notes but also detailed instructions about how fast or
detailed instructions about how fast or
detailed instructions about how fast or how loud to play them what kind of
how loud to play them what kind of
how loud to play them what kind of attack to use and so on there are a lot
attack to use and so on there are a lot
attack to use and so on there are a lot of clues in there about how to realize
of clues in there about how to realize
of clues in there about how to realize the composer’s ideas so you may ask
the composer’s ideas so you may ask
the composer’s ideas so you may ask what’s the point of having a conductor
what’s the point of having a conductor
what’s the point of having a conductor at all
at all
at all well aren’t your byzant trivial even
well aren’t your byzant trivial even
well aren’t your byzant trivial even just on the level of coordination we do
just on the level of coordination we do
just on the level of coordination we do have to give a certain amount of traffic
have to give a certain amount of traffic
have to give a certain amount of traffic signals after all it’s important that
signals after all it’s important that
signals after all it’s important that the musicians all start together
and stop together thank you but beyond
and stop together thank you but beyond that we’re trying to communicate the
that we’re trying to communicate the
that we’re trying to communicate the essence of the music I’d like to
essence of the music I’d like to
essence of the music I’d like to demonstrate that by taking out the
demonstrate that by taking out the
demonstrate that by taking out the elements of reading the clues
elements of reading the clues
elements of reading the clues if a piece hasn’t already been written
if a piece hasn’t already been written
if a piece hasn’t already been written down is there an essence that we can
down is there an essence that we can
down is there an essence that we can draw out of thin air an emotional impact
draw out of thin air an emotional impact
draw out of thin air an emotional impact that doesn’t depend on the notes when
that doesn’t depend on the notes when
that doesn’t depend on the notes when musicians improvise together in a small
musicians improvise together in a small
musicians improvise together in a small group we can shift our focus from
group we can shift our focus from
group we can shift our focus from reading what’s in front of us to
reading what’s in front of us to
reading what’s in front of us to listening to one another by reacting to
listening to one another by reacting to
listening to one another by reacting to what we hear someone else playing maybe
what we hear someone else playing maybe
what we hear someone else playing maybe taking their idea and developing it
taking their idea and developing it
taking their idea and developing it running away with it bouncing it back
running away with it bouncing it back
running away with it bouncing it back and forth the group creates a piece of
and forth the group creates a piece of
and forth the group creates a piece of music together
music together
music together the musicians listen in a different way
the musicians listen in a different way
the musicians listen in a different way responding to one another rather than
responding to one another rather than
responding to one another rather than planning out how they’re going to play
planning out how they’re going to play
planning out how they’re going to play what’s in front of them I’ll show you
what’s in front of them I’ll show you
what’s in front of them I’ll show you what I mean um Sofia start us off with a
what I mean um Sofia start us off with a
what I mean um Sofia start us off with a bass line just something jaunty
okay loathe as I am to interrupt you and
okay loathe as I am to interrupt you and they could go on for quite a while I’ve
they could go on for quite a while I’ve
they could go on for quite a while I’ve heard them working together and it’s
heard them working together and it’s
heard them working together and it’s lovely but I want to introduce a new
lovely but I want to introduce a new
lovely but I want to introduce a new element which is I’d like to I’ll ask
element which is I’d like to I’ll ask
element which is I’d like to I’ll ask them now to respond to what I’m doing
them now to respond to what I’m doing
them now to respond to what I’m doing so they’re going to be converting my
so they’re going to be converting my
so they’re going to be converting my physical gestures into musical ones is
physical gestures into musical ones is
physical gestures into musical ones is exactly what they do when there is music
exactly what they do when there is music
exactly what they do when there is music on the stand in front of them but we’ve
on the stand in front of them but we’ve
on the stand in front of them but we’ve taken that away so this is what’s left
taken that away so this is what’s left
taken that away so this is what’s left so for example if I make a gesture like
so for example if I make a gesture like
so for example if I make a gesture like this it’s going to have a very different
this it’s going to have a very different
this it’s going to have a very different effect from this
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] thank you but beyond that I’m asking how
thank you but beyond that I’m asking how
thank you but beyond that I’m asking how it happens what’s just happened there
it happens what’s just happened there
it happens what’s just happened there and it was all improvised is this some
and it was all improvised is this some
and it was all improvised is this some kind of magic trick am I perhaps someone
kind of magic trick am I perhaps someone
kind of magic trick am I perhaps someone with a superpower can anyone do it or do
with a superpower can anyone do it or do
with a superpower can anyone do it or do you have to be a musician well I believe
you have to be a musician well I believe
you have to be a musician well I believe that you don’t have to be what you might
that you don’t have to be what you might
that you don’t have to be what you might think of as musical in order to make
think of as musical in order to make
think of as musical in order to make music out of thin air with these
music out of thin air with these
music out of thin air with these musicians reacting to you your physical
musicians reacting to you your physical
musicians reacting to you your physical presence will translate into sound do I
presence will translate into sound do I
presence will translate into sound do I have a volunteer to test out this theory
have a volunteer to test out this theory
have a volunteer to test out this theory come on then I’ve become
if you wouldn’t mind just standing there
if you wouldn’t mind just standing there do anything I might stop you but feel
do anything I might stop you but feel
do anything I might stop you but feel free
free
free [Music]
[Music]
[Music] well done
hey go so how did that feel very nice
hey go so how did that feel very nice very nice any sort of adjective and it
very nice any sort of adjective and it
very nice any sort of adjective and it was pleasurable to be able to feel so
was pleasurable to be able to feel so
was pleasurable to be able to feel so the pleasure was in the response that
the pleasure was in the response that
the pleasure was in the response that you got from them yeah thank you
you got from them yeah thank you
you got from them yeah thank you anyone else again if you just stand
anyone else again if you just stand
anyone else again if you just stand there and off you go
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
thank you very much thanks I wish we had
thank you very much thanks I wish we had time for everyone to have a go because
time for everyone to have a go because
time for everyone to have a go because it really is a lot of fun and thank you
it really is a lot of fun and thank you
it really is a lot of fun and thank you one of the words that people often use
one of the words that people often use
one of the words that people often use when they have this experience and I say
when they have this experience and I say
when they have this experience and I say what did it feel like they say
what did it feel like they say
what did it feel like they say empowering because sometimes we get
empowering because sometimes we get
empowering because sometimes we get empowerment from quite unexpected
empowerment from quite unexpected
empowerment from quite unexpected quarters and I’d like to take that idea
quarters and I’d like to take that idea
quarters and I’d like to take that idea and ask you for a moment to think about
and ask you for a moment to think about
and ask you for a moment to think about power not in it’s hierarchical meaning
power not in it’s hierarchical meaning
power not in it’s hierarchical meaning but in the sense of electricity because
but in the sense of electricity because
but in the sense of electricity because what we’re doing here is switching on
what we’re doing here is switching on
what we’re doing here is switching on the power or plugging into the power
the power or plugging into the power
the power or plugging into the power supply and then conducting this
supply and then conducting this
supply and then conducting this electricity into the group of people in
electricity into the group of people in
electricity into the group of people in front of us our hands our faces and in
front of us our hands our faces and in
front of us our hands our faces and in fact our whole bodies become a conduit
fact our whole bodies become a conduit
fact our whole bodies become a conduit for this power and this is where what I
for this power and this is where what I
for this power and this is where what I do with music is something we will do
do with music is something we will do
do with music is something we will do you all do in your daily lives in
you all do in your daily lives in
you all do in your daily lives in various work or social situations your
various work or social situations your
various work or social situations your having a job interview you’re teaching a
having a job interview you’re teaching a
having a job interview you’re teaching a class about Shakespeare or the spinning
class about Shakespeare or the spinning
class about Shakespeare or the spinning jenny you’re in a committee meeting
jenny you’re in a committee meeting
jenny you’re in a committee meeting you’re having coffee with a group of
you’re having coffee with a group of
you’re having coffee with a group of friends we all conduct our relationships
friends we all conduct our relationships
friends we all conduct our relationships with individuals and with groups of
with individuals and with groups of
with individuals and with groups of people how we create music in the world
people how we create music in the world
people how we create music in the world is very much dependent on how we occupy
is very much dependent on how we occupy
is very much dependent on how we occupy space what we do in and with the space
space what we do in and with the space
space what we do in and with the space between us and other people simply how
between us and other people simply how
between us and other people simply how we are in a very physical sense it’s
we are in a very physical sense it’s
we are in a very physical sense it’s fundamentally part of communication so
fundamentally part of communication so
fundamentally part of communication so all the time we have the opportunity to
all the time we have the opportunity to
all the time we have the opportunity to communicate the music within us whether
communicate the music within us whether
communicate the music within us whether it’s how violent or angry or joyful or
it’s how violent or angry or joyful or
it’s how violent or angry or joyful or just tired and miserable
just tired and miserable
just tired and miserable whatever the music inside you you are
whatever the music inside you you are
whatever the music inside you you are already conducting something of your
already conducting something of your
already conducting something of your essence to the people around you and for
essence to the people around you and for
essence to the people around you and for them because part of what you’re doing
them because part of what you’re doing
them because part of what you’re doing is channeling your music but at the same
is channeling your music but at the same
is channeling your music but at the same time you’re empowering other people to
time you’re empowering other people to
time you’re empowering other people to express the music within them now I
express the music within them now I
express the music within them now I don’t want you to think that when I’m
don’t want you to think that when I’m
don’t want you to think that when I’m conducting a piece of music it’s
conducting a piece of music it’s
conducting a piece of music it’s necessarily my emotions that I’m
necessarily my emotions that I’m
necessarily my emotions that I’m transmitting to the musicians and in
transmitting to the musicians and in
transmitting to the musicians and in fact sometimes what I’m feeling couldn’t
fact sometimes what I’m feeling couldn’t
fact sometimes what I’m feeling couldn’t be further from what’s in the music I’ll
be further from what’s in the music I’ll
be further from what’s in the music I’ll give you an example some years ago I was
give you an example some years ago I was
give you an example some years ago I was conducting a concert of lovely Christmas
conducting a concert of lovely Christmas
conducting a concert of lovely Christmas music I came back after the rehearsal
music I came back after the rehearsal
music I came back after the rehearsal and I took a phone call to tell me that
and I took a phone call to tell me that
and I took a phone call to tell me that my little godson who had been ill for
my little godson who had been ill for
my little godson who had been ill for some time had just died
some time had just died
some time had just died well I raged and I cried but the show
well I raged and I cried but the show
well I raged and I cried but the show must go on
must go on
must go on so I did what performers do I put on my
so I did what performers do I put on my
so I did what performers do I put on my concert suit picked up my baton and went
concert suit picked up my baton and went
concert suit picked up my baton and went on stage I have very little memory of
on stage I have very little memory of
on stage I have very little memory of that concert but curiously people who
that concert but curiously people who
that concert but curiously people who were there said things like how well I
were there said things like how well I
were there said things like how well I brought the music across I mean how on
brought the music across I mean how on
brought the music across I mean how on earth could this happen
earth could this happen
earth could this happen the music was serene it was Julius so I
the music was serene it was Julius so I
the music was serene it was Julius so I was clearly not communicating what I was
was clearly not communicating what I was
was clearly not communicating what I was actually feeling inside which was shock
actually feeling inside which was shock
actually feeling inside which was shock and grief nor do I think I was putting
and grief nor do I think I was putting
and grief nor do I think I was putting my feelings away in a box I think that’s
my feelings away in a box I think that’s
my feelings away in a box I think that’s something that’s really unhelpful for
something that’s really unhelpful for
something that’s really unhelpful for musicians to do because we are trying to
musicians to do because we are trying to
musicians to do because we are trying to be a pure channel for the music and if
be a pure channel for the music and if
be a pure channel for the music and if we lock our emotions away we are
we lock our emotions away we are
we lock our emotions away we are blocking that channel what I think was
blocking that channel what I think was
blocking that channel what I think was going on was that the immediacy of these
going on was that the immediacy of these
going on was that the immediacy of these very strong emotions the sheer power of
very strong emotions the sheer power of
very strong emotions the sheer power of them not the feelings themselves had
them not the feelings themselves had
them not the feelings themselves had somehow opens me up so that I was able
somehow opens me up so that I was able
somehow opens me up so that I was able to transmit the spirit of the music
to transmit the spirit of the music
to transmit the spirit of the music so the thoughts I’d like to leave you is
so the thoughts I’d like to leave you is
so the thoughts I’d like to leave you is ah believe that you to have music within
ah believe that you to have music within
ah believe that you to have music within you
you
you however literally all metaphorically you
however literally all metaphorically you
however literally all metaphorically you want to take that and don’t be afraid of
want to take that and don’t be afraid of
want to take that and don’t be afraid of your feelings because they can empower
your feelings because they can empower
your feelings because they can empower you with your own electricity
you with your own electricity
you with your own electricity you’ll challenge then is to trust that
you’ll challenge then is to trust that
you’ll challenge then is to trust that you are conducting your own music
you are conducting your own music
you are conducting your own music through your own power lines in your
through your own power lines in your
through your own power lines in your relationships and out into the world
relationships and out into the world
relationships and out into the world make it matter
make it matter
make it matter [Applause]
”
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