The Modern Conductor (6th Edition) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth A. Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0132514818 | ISBN-13: 978-0132514811 | Edition: 6

Extensively refined and updated, this new edition on conducting posits that conducting is atime-space art. It builds basic book techniques and includes additional band scores excerpts, placed in proximity with the classic repertoire. The text adds new baton timing techniques, and shows the relationships of time, speed, and motion. Key words and principles are highlighted in boldface or italics. This book states a new principle regarding gesture-speed as related to dynamics and phrasing. Drills to train the mind and hands simultaneously are presented. Complete diagrams, all time-beating patterns, and logical classification of expressive gestures are included. Offers manual-technique photo illustrations and a wealth of music examples that show the application of techniques. Features an extensive appendix that includes seating charts, language tables (scores), less common terms, and an outline of musical form to aid in score study. For musicians.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Extensively refined and updated, this new edition on conducting posits that conducting is a time-space art. It builds basic manual techniques--and includes additional band scores excerpts, placed in proximity with the classic repertoire. The text adds new baton timing techniques, and shows the relationships of time, speed, and motion.

From the Back Cover

Extensively refined and updated, this new edition on conducting posits that conducting is atime-space art. It builds basic book techniques and includes additional band scores excerpts, placed in proximity with the classic repertoire. The text adds new baton timing techniques, and shows the relationships of time, speed, and motion. Key words and principles are highlighted in boldface or italics. This book states a new principle regarding gesture-speed as related to dynamics and phrasing. Drills to train the mind and hands simultaneously are presented. Complete diagrams, all time-beating patterns, and logical classification of expressive gestures are included. Offers manual-technique photo illustrations and a wealth of music examples that show the application of techniques. Features an extensive appendix that includes seating charts, language tables (scores), less common terms, and an outline of musical form to aid in score study. For musicians.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 286 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 6 edition (November 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132514818
• ISBN-13: 978-0132514811
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book after reading Rudolf's book, October 18, 2001

By 

Hermes Camacho "MusicianHermes" (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Modern Conductor (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

This book written by the legendary conducting teacher Elizabeth A.H. Green is very insightful and shows the beginnings of conducting from an old master like Malko.

I would reccommend buying the Max Rudolf text (used by most major conservatories and universities) for a more substantial basis. Then read this book and get a whole new perspective on several different baton techniques, rehearsal techniques, and conducting in general.

My only problem is that I don't think this book is worth the 68 dollars that the publisher is asking. First get the Rudolf (much thicker, more info for a basis, and cheaper) and get this book. It's great despite the price and somewhat limited explanation.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, constructive, and essential, December 22, 1999

By 

Josh Feigelson (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Modern Conductor (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

The Modern Conductor is an amazingly straight-forward book. Its directions are constructive and clear, and by following Elizabeth Green's suggested exercises and drills, you will develop great conducting "grammar." Arm motions become second-nature, and the aspiring conductor can focus instead on expressing musical ideas clearly to the orchestra.

I was Elizabeth Green's last student before she died in 1995. This book brought me to this wonderful musical sage. Nothing can replace the lessons I had with her as senior in high school, but the Modern Conductor encapsulates her method and primary teachings. It is an essential book for any conductor who wants to speak clearly with the hands.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's better to see one time than to be told a hundred, January 14, 2009

By 

Pavel Stetsenko (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modern Conductor, The (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have the fifth edition of this book, which I bought on Amazon.com for $15. I don't believe the 7th edition is THAT radically different to pay $68.
The book is concise and clear but comparing to "The Technique of Conducting" by Ilya Musin (another pupil of Nikolai Malko) is rather scimpy and informationally insufficient. Max Rudolf definitely covers much more territory than E. Green, 5th or 7th edition notwithstanding. No one, so far, did a better job explaining the intricacies of manual technique than Musin.

Green's book would be of much more value if it came with a DVD, demonstrating all that is said in the book. It's better one time to see than a hundred times to hear about.

There is one book (and a small one) that might serve a better purpose. A student of Ilya Musin came up with his own pedagogical book:
Ennio Nicotra, Introduction to the orchestral conducting technique in accordance to Ilya Musin's school. This one is in three languages (English, Italian, Spanish) and it comes with a DVD, in which all the techniques and manual tricks are shown sequentially. Check it out!