DOES AN ORCHESTRA NEED A CONDUCTOR!? - 5 reasons why - 😂 Rainer Hersch
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 เม.ย. 2020
- Well, could an orchestra do it on their own? AT LAST! A simple and funny conducting lesson by conductor & stand-up comedian Rainer Hersch. Classical Music at it's funniest.
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THIS CLIP
The best conducting lesson you will ever have. Witty, charming and unmistakably British, Rainer Hersch ("Victor Borge for a new generation" The London Times) explains with laugh-out-loud comedy what does a conductor do? The myths about conductors and conducting are gently exploded. Here are five reasons everyone can understand, whether you are seasoned orchestral musician or couldn't tell a baton from your bottom. Starting with setting the tempo and showing when the musicians should actually start playing, the conductor needs to be seen by everyone. Then there is giving cues to the players and adjusting the balance. This is funny and informative. But don't let him fool you, a monkey could do it.
ABOUT RAINER HERSCH
A trained conductor and pianist, British stand-up comedian Rainer Hersch has performed on every comedy stage in the UK and in more than thirty countries across the world. He has conducted orchestras from The St Petersburg Philharmonic to the Tasmanian Symphony. Rainer and his own 'Orkestra' are on tour in Autumn 2020 www.rainerhersch.com/whatson/
All enquiries: management@masterpiece.me.uk - ตลก
“So, to speed up the process they need someone they like and respect to do the job for them. But since they can’t find anyone they like and respect, they have to use a conductor.”
-Rainer Herschel, 4-28-2020
Was excalty looking for this comment
someone recently asked me this question ... The Maestro is like the director at the cinema, it is he who brings to light what the writer has created. He must well know the spirit of the music that his orchestra will play ... It really astonishes me that people do not know such principles
@@SamirAbadeer The conductor is also something else ... like the salesman at the music store, the celebrity in the trailer, the cherry on top of the sundae. He's part of the show and audiences expect to see him standing there doing some showmanship.
This is so true. Someone may admire a particular conductor while someone may not like him at all but at the end, they both have to follow the conductor for the common good.
@@SamirAbadeer No, the real question is this: why the conductor goes on stage with the orchestra at the concert instead to stay off stage like the director at the theatrical performance? And Rainer Hersch give an answer: because the orchestra needs a conductor even at the public.
That is even more true with being a trombone player. I’ve had pieces that I’ve literally only had one note in the entire piece.
Could be for horns or cymbals.
In the Hungarian Hymn, the cymbal has only one note. I always wanted to ask, how it feels like just to wait (and not get asleep) before and after.
im a trombone and ive seen a piece that only has pads for trombones, long whole notes and occasional half notes, thats the best i had to play in that piece, nothing else was fun
I feel ya. I was principal trombone in an orchestra last summer and our main piece started with 100+ bars of rest followed by three bars of pretty high notes and then more rests
bass trombonist here, sometimes you feel pretty useless, but that's why I'm not only playing in the orchestra but also in the bigband.
There was a Mickey Mouse one-pager where Mickey was the triangle player in an orchestra. He took a stroll outside, waiting for his one note to come.
Another conductor joke: on a reahearsal a lot goes wrong in the percussion: the conductor stops and says: what do you do when a musician isnt good enough to play in an orchestra?? You give them two sticks and put them in the back and let them play drums. Rehearsal continues and a few times a tempochange goes wrong. When they stop a percussionist sneers: and when they can't even do that? You take one stick away and put them in the front....
well if the percussions fuck it up so hard they are in no position to talk big. smh
The conductor of my band but up a sign with a picture of a conductors baton that said: this is a conductors baton. Never touch one unless you have failed at all other instruments.
Hououin Kyouma
So very true! I was in the percussion section of my highschool band (bass drum an cymbal). Now luckily this happened during rehearsal but still I remember vividly (after at least 50 years!). I had several 100 bars before one big smash on the drum with a good smack with the top mounted cymbal. And that after only one oboe playing for several bars. Off course you don‘t count 100th of bars, you mark a recognizable bar close to your big moments and count from there. Since this was only the 1th or 2nd time we were playing the music I gave out a hefty bass drum and cymbal crash, albeit 1 bar too early! Then all hell broke loose, because everybody else was thinking, they had miscounted and were 1 bar too late, so they all tried to fall in, and the director had to stop all of us. He was a nice guy so I got a smile and a questioning shrug from him and lots of remarks from the rest of the band afterwards!
I didn’t see that coming, it’s ag nice joke
@@berndheiden7630 Hey, that's what rehearsals are for. (To screw up on the counting until you learn the right cue to count from.)
I always thought that the conductor's job was to distract the audience with a bunch of meaningless gestures, so nobody would notice that I just emptied my trumpet's spit valve down the neck of someone in the Second Clarinets. Then at the end, he says when we are supposed to stand and bow, which is actually the only time that we pay any attention to all of that waving.
underrated comment
As a second clarinet I feel offended. Empty it into a bassoon or other unimportant instrument
You sadist
He is a youtube og
@@hollyingrams5653 Im a bassoonist. I was gonna be offended, but bassoons are kinda useless not gonna lie
The moment he said "Shut it violas!" I was like "TWO SETTERS, ASSEMBLE!!!!" 😂😂😂
The sacrilegious Viola gang was playing the wrong notes because they were playing too slowly. They need to subscribe to TwoSet and find that, if they can play it slowly, they can play it quickly ... after they do the Ling Ling workout of 40 hours practice every day. >>WOW
The percussion bit is accurate, I have taken selfies during rehearsal
wouldn't have dared that with our conductor :D
Calvin Ransom
In my highschool band I had a cymbal slide off the basedrum, tried to catch it, missed, juggled it 2 or 3 times before it slipped from my hands for good and it crashed down from the highest end of the bandstand (where the percussion resides high up in the air) to give everybody, including the band director, a near heart attack!
Talk about instant recognition!
I've found that a lot of the work of a conductor happens during rehearsals, a part that the audience rarely gets to see. If a choir or orchestra can perform without the conductor, it is because they have practiced so much beforehand.
That's a good point.
The conductor's job is not seen by the public, it's done before and during rehearsals. When the concert begins, the conductor has almost finished his job...
Exactly. I'd have thought that was the number one reason, but it didn't even make the list.
I was waiting for that reason the whole video. Without it is a pretty dumb one. Since is clearly a video aimed to a general public, the message it passes is: musicians don't practice, they just get together the day of the concert and play, but they are like sheeps in a herd that need a shepard dog (because concert musicians didn't train their whole life to play together, nope...)
@@jackko90MI Rehearsals aren't for learning your notes, they're for learning how all the parts fit together. One conducting workshop I attended suggested that in concert, the conductor is more for the audience than the orchestra as the conductor's gestures should occur before the musical elements they reflect. As such, conducting shows the audience what is about to happen.
You guys have got the concept of conducting wrong. There's some sort of magic that happens with great conductors during performance that is indescribable no matter how long they've rehearsed. And that's the beauty of live performances, it never sounds twice the same...
When student composers write their pieces for an orchestra, the orchestra usually plays it without rehearsals. Everyone can read the notes, they see the tempo and dynamics, and conductor puts everything in overall order. So I think this is the reason why it is missing. Conductor and an orchestra can actually play something without rehearsals, but they can't play it without a conductor
The violas are playing all the right notes. Just not necessarily in the right order.
That's one of my favorite comedy bits!!!!! Thank you Eric and Ernie. (Hat tip to Andre Previn.)
Even the conductor is roasting the viola gang.
sharpfang viola gang viola gang viola gang
Wait, they can play in tune???
No one know’s if the Viola’s are playing the right notes or not because they haven’t got the ears to be able to hear them.
"... since they cant find someone they like and respect, they have to use a conductor." Hahahahahahahaha made me laugh loud hahahahah
Thanks. Glad you got a kick out of it.
When people in the orchestra like the conductor, they play what is in the notes. When they hate him, they play what the conductor is showing.
I think there's some truth in that. Orchestras bale out conductors all the time . . .
James Neilson Graham he did mention that there are apparently some conductors who would loose if pitted against trained munkeys.
That's called "malicious compliance"
That has absolutely no value or meaning in reality lol
"Be quiet Trumpets! Don't make me come over there." 😂😂😂
yeah ... I have heard that said before... My orchestra rotates between classical concerts and pop/musicals etc. Everytime we start rehearsals for the pop concerts the violins get sore ears again because my music suddenly says ffff and I get to play again!!! So I get a bit loud! The the classical concert comes up and we get told yes I know it says f but you don't actually play it f!
WOW! Some straight answers here at long last! Thank-you!
As a percussionist, I feel personally attacked
Haha. Sorry about that. Now go back to your selfies.
@@RainerHerschTH-cam actually I prefer to get lost in my 100 bar rest and miss my one cymbal hit of the piece
You do? how come if it's true, you get 20 minutes of downtime in a piece and then if you're day dreaming you miss your (my) cymbal cue and get a death stare from the director for the rest of the year. Fun! (just kidding, I love my conductor. and He doesn't mind me either.
don't mind the haters. they are just jealous, and without the rhythm section they could never stay on time.
@@ExplizitDuester The rhythm section is for those who aren't paying attention to whatever the hell the conductor thinks he's doing.
I know that people have probably told you this before, but you're a really good fookin' comedian!
😀
@@RainerHerschTH-cam not only ....
I've watched several videos on this subject by other conductors and yours is the only one that I feel is really honest and tells the whole story. Thanks a lot!
Thanks. There is so much mumbo jumbo out there.
6:38"Be quiet trumpets don't make me come over there" LOL
As a clarinetist I cam attest that we will drown you all out
Thanks. But could you keep the comments down? I can hardly hear myself think :-)
3:00 What was that from? That is just incredibly silly and pointless.
Viola jokes. Lingling wannabes would be very proud.
ling ling 40 hours
The sacrilegious Viola gang was playing the wrong notes because they were playing too slowly. They need to subscribe to TwoSet and find that, if they can play it slowly, they can play it quickly ... after they do the Ling Ling workout of 40 hours practice every day. >>WOW
Since I found twoset, everytime I see a musician in a video, I wonder if they watch their channel 😅
TwoSet fans are everywhere. I wonder if Rainer Hersch practices for 40 hours a week
liiiinnnnggggg ling 40 hours
"...since they cant find someone they like and respect they need a conductor!"
Hahaha true! Reminds me of the times I was the conductor of a high school. 😂
Thank-you. I've been a classical music nut for most of my life. I knew all this, and I'm glad you did this so well. I've been to dozens upon dozens of concerts, half a dozen Operas, musicals and all. My mother was a violinist in orchestras around the world, always playing 2nd violin.
I'll add in a bit, my mother always said that the hardest part, for her, was the fact that, while siting there, playing, was that not only was it a mishmash of notes she also couldn't hear many instruments, like cellos, woodwinds, and such on pieces by composers like Bach, Haydn, and such. When it's soft, you can only hear your instrument section, and no mishmash at all, aside from a faint hint of sound, making it 100% completely impossible to know when to come in. This is even more true of people that play instruments that have only one or two of the instrument since you have zero hint. She always said that she could often take cues from other violins, but always depended on the conductor. However, if you're playing the Bassoon and there's only 3 bassoons, then you have not hint at all.
I appreciate your comments. Thanks.
You are saying it's impossible to do anything in classical music in front of an audience without having a dude wave his arms and have your little sheet music in front of you, in case you forgot. What a weird little cult practice. Seems more like indoctrination than reality. It's
I'd love to see you explaining what gestures makes to music
I'll think about that.
@@RainerHerschTH-cam looking forward to, sir!
@@RainerHerschTH-cam Yeah, that would be quite interesting!
This!
While i see what you mean, different conductors show different things in different ways
I heard from Nobuo Uematsu duringonce of his conversations on stage that a conductor does an immense amount of work behind the scenes as well, such as finding out about different halls and how their acoustics will change the sound of music. So, one hall isn't the same as another, so they have to make adjustments to suit the various halls.
It takes a very confident man to pull off that jacket!
I think the jacket might end up with its own channel.
@@RainerHerschTH-cam Deserves it.
I'd like to add, even though you kind of said it when talking about getting everyone to agree, that the conductor also gives a general direction for the interpretation. Since interpretation can be a very personal thing, and is mostly subjective, it's impossible that every instrument in the orchestra will have the exact same ideas on how to play the piece, and the conductor is the one who decides which path to take. He can take opinions and advice from the player, but ultimately, he's the one who gets to decide and put everyone on the same page.
That's it exactly. People who haven't had the experience of playing in an orchestra might not understand that the music notation itself is not precise enough. Someone has to decide about a whole heap of things which make the music come alive. There is, of course, a lot more to it than I talk about here but I want to keep it easy to grasp.
Omg yes. Think of your string quartet. Have a weak, selfish or stupid 1st violin, then you may as well quit.
This has answered certain questions that I've had for as long as I can remember. I have asked many times before what the conductor's purpose is, and the best answer I ever got was that the conductor is there to avoid/prevent 'rubato'. I see now that there's a bit more to it than that.
Actually, the conductor can actually HELP rubato, if that’s what the piece needs. You couldn’t play a Mahler symphony without it for example. But as I said in the clip, SOMEONE has to deceive how the orchestra does it.
My understanding is that the conductor also interprets the piece and guides the mood. We don't see it on the day of the concert -- it happens during rehearsals. He's the one who will tell certain instruments to tone down at certain parts and so on, and makes sure everything merges harmoniously. That's why some conductors are very celebrated; they interpret the music in such a way that it becomes alive and emotional.
You've answered questions I've been wondering about for almost 60 years.
Finally, a clear and detiled answer of this question.
Lovely, thanks for expanding my knowledge (and therefore, appreciation) of all things orchestral.
4:55 As a brass player I feel called out. Did make me laugh out loud though, so good job.
Same, but I thought, "he's not wrong". :)
yeah but he isn't wrong... actually he's scarily accurate!
Thank you so much for answering that question.
Thank you so much, I have asked this question dozens of times and you are the first person that actually broke it down into reasonable and logical bits!
Without a conductor whos going to lose his shit on reversals?! And them savage burns if you mess up? Yup. Conductor.
LOVE this man. His presention is FABULOUS . BRAVO 👏👏👏 😁 💖
Definitely the best explanation out there on TH-cam. I think it's because you answered the most important question of whether or not the orchestra can play without the conductor. And also because of your wit.
Love the viola joke at the end👌 10/10
I am SO glad that I found this channel
Excelente explicación!
Exactly reflects my experiences in amateur orcs and bands - also very funny!
Brilliant ! Thank you so much for this insight. 😍👏👏👏
Love your energy Mr. Hersch :D
Un excelente trabajo, me ha encantado, por fin alguien me explica esto.
Simple and to the point with a funny way. Thank you for clearing this question out.
Thank you! I was just talking about this question with a friend just a few days ago. The part where you showed what it sounds to the individual player was especially illuminating.
Well my orchestra in South America needed a conductor just to keep the infighting at bay. Hostile arguments during rehearsals
Yes. One of the other things about the conductor is that they lead the rehearsals. Otherwise the band would just play through over and over without getting better. That and keep the peace.
@@RainerHerschTH-cam It's probably because they can then focus their hostilities instead of randomly fighting with each other.
Conductors are like condoms: it's safier with them, but a lot more fun without
I thought it was: "it's safer with them but a lot more fun without"? ;-)
@@RainerHerschTH-cam yes, sorry, but I'm Italian and I have never been good in English
Here a Belgian, I also find conductors important. And it is as he say; in the orchestra you only hear what you play, especially when you are at the very back (I played synthesizer in the school band and I usually played the B-flat bass). But Matthieu Challancin, I'm going to take this comment to the next band rehearsal. A really good joke
@@MrElektrogiant Thanks, I'm too at the very back of my orchestra, because, as you can see from the my profile photo, I play trombone, so I can understand how much is important a conductor
@@RainerHerschTH-cam another kinda rude joke on conductors: Whats the difference between a bull and an orchestra. A bull has the horns sitting in front and the asshole at the back. With an orchestra the horns are sitting in the back and the asshole is up front......
Sir Hersch, more video please!
Love your channel, you make classical music fun.
You have an awesome attitude Rainer! Love it!
Nice, appreciate the humor in all this.
Great Explanation for all those who always assume that a conductor was just a highly paid spectator.
Thanks for the explanation!
So clear and funny! 🤣
Master! You are the most great director on the world... and the most funniest player ever!
Yo make the difference between all orchestras, because you smile and make smile all players when doing music!
need to watch this again.. i was too busy thinking about the lightbulbs
Amazing video. Very funny, entertaining and answered brilliantly the question I had itching my mind for decades.
Thank you sir.
My pleasure!
Really really interesting and well done for the explanations.
Could never figure this out, thanks for charing knowledge
Thank you for posting....I've always wondered this....I thoroughly enjoy all your videos.
XD I wasn't expecting that viola joke
Great as always
Thanks again!
Then there was the tone deaf orchestra conductor who ended up in hospital after he accidentally shoved his baton in an electrical socket. The doctors said he would have died, but, luckily for him he was a poor conductor!😁
Ich danke Ihnen für Ihre schönen und lustigen Beiträge, Sie sind klasse.🤗👍🤗👍🤗👍🙂🙂🙂
Bitte schön. Würden deutsche Untertitel dir helfen?
@@RainerHerschTH-cam Das wäre schön, ich verstehe Englisch in Maßen. Das ich ihn verstehe liegt an seiner Mimik/ Gestik und außerdem ist Musik sprachgrenzenübergreifend.🤗
Ja, ich stimme.
Absolutely perfect explanation. I caught myself more than once asking the question if an orchestra needs a conductor. Now i know it definately does
Love it!!!!💝🥰
Excellent and useful presentation.
Great explanation.
Lovely!
Thank you so much good info and funny to, keep it up love this video
I didn't realize this was an official channel! I've watched Mr. Hersch do lots of orchestral work on TH-cam, but I also found the odd video on management and leadership. Quite effective, those.
Cheers from the US!
That guy behind the orchestra is the one true conductor. All others are just lazy to work so hard telepathically.
Seriously Thank you for letting us know cause damn I'm really into this job now!
enjoyed that a lot. Too funny. Especially true about how sound differs when you're in the orchestra as a clarinet when you've got the brass behind you deafening you and the saxophones next to you belting it doing something different and you get lost
Thanks, you're the first to actually explain this to me.
Wow, I just discovered this guy. Love him. “Shut it violas, you’re playing all the wrong notes”
That little viola burn at the end got me
I loved the video!! Great job! Cool jokes and interesting facts! Thank you!
Thank you for video, i’ve always wondered about this
That's a fantastic explanation! Thank you and for the laughs!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I don't agree on the blue danube: especially when its the Vienna Philharmonic plays. They once said: whoever we have up front there we always play the same version. We agreed on that. He just has to follow us in the tempo. Probabably the most easy job for a conductor: conducting the vienna phil in the new years concert.
The best New Year Concert conductors conduct the _audience_ during the Radetsky March.
Now that was a good video on my question
Amazingly entertaining video!
Great video. Thank you,I was wondering what was going on in between.
Simple and great explanatory...
I've been waiting the whole video for the sign to hit the bell
Get set... Ready... Waaaaait for iiiiiiit...... Not yeeeeeet...... Not during the violin solo.....
*GO* !
"Be quiet trumpets don't make me come over there !" that one just got me. I, now, really want to see a conductor taunting all the orchestra while conducting.
Loved that...
So informative and so funny 🤣
Brilliant, clear, funny and informative.. I ThanQ.
That viola roast at the end. I thought only two set violin roasted violas. 😂😂😂
Another brilliant approach and your jacket of course!! 😉
Cool - I'll wear a different jacket for the next one.
Informative and entertaining!! ;)
The best explanation I could have asked for such a pressing question in my mind. Well made video. Thank you, Pippin! (if you know, you know :D)
When have you gotten 80 or 90 people to agree on anything?
Totally agree. To wit: U. S. Congress, or even Parliament in UK.
We didn't need this information.
we've all seen, done or are guilty of what he said.
We watched this because we love Rainer.😍
I never realized how important a conductor is. Thanks for a great fun video 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow thanks for putting it all together for those of us that love listening to music but may not know a lot about it. Your video was well-thought-out and demonstrated what I needed to know in a way I could understand. Thanks keep up the good work.
My pleasure!
"Shut it, Violas, you're playing all the wrong notes" 😂😂
Thankyou..cheered me up no end.
Great. Now that cheers ME up.
I was playing the flute in the school orchestra when I was in high school and it was great fun. I wish I could still play there.