Movement of the musician(s) is one thing for solo music, another for
ensemble music.

Sight is instantaneous, and provides a much stronger degree of
cohesiveness when exploited well than sound does, sound lags significantly
just crossing a small stage, and cannot be depended on for cohesion.  Good
groups watch each others hands/mouths for timing.

Choral conductors, especially those busy with an organ as they conduct,
will in time become artful in using all their body (ears, nose, eyes,
head) to cue sections and individuals; they commonly mouth the text to
encourage an entrance and all that.  "give me your eyes" is a constant
plea.

Madrigal groups and dance orchestras are usually discouraged from
toe-tapping, curiously it is often out of sync with the required rhythm;
but when larger body movement (eg, head nodding) is involved things seem
to get better; at least until there is a change in mensuration :-).

Chant usually has a director whose hand(s) coerce and guide the group
along, not sure how that group dynamic works if members have their own
ideas expressed physically.
--
Dana Emery



To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html

Reply via email to