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THE INSTRUMENTALISED CONDUCTOR

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2021

Thomas R. Moore
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Abstract

This article explores ways in which artistic directors and composers of new music ensembles have developed and redefined the role of the conductor to achieve specific goals and fulfil musical and artistic need. It will explore various manners in which they have instrumentalised the conductor – literally an embodied role – and opened new possibilities for musical expression. The analysis and examples provided will rely for the most part on material gathered during in-depth interviews conducted with artistic directors, composers, conductors and musicians who are professionally active in the new music field in Europe and beyond. The article endeavours to bring into greater detail artistic and socio-economic motivations for utilising conductors in new music ensembles.

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Type
RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Tempo , Volume 75 , Issue 297 , July 2021 , pp. 48 - 60
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

1 Integrative concerts, such as video, light and sound design (for example, live electronics), decor and the utilisation of a conductor, are all integral parts of the concert programming.

2 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/instrumentalize.

3 Torre, Giuseppe and Andersen, Kristina, ‘Instrumentality, Time and Perseverance’, In: Bovermann, T., de Campo, A., Egermann, H., Hardjowirogo, SI., Weinzierl, S. (eds) Musical Instruments in the 21st Century (Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, 2017)Google Scholar.

4 Wim Henderickx, interview, 22 January 2020.

5 Pieter Matthynssens, interview, 21 January 2020.

6 Stefan Prins, interview, 23 August and 10 November 2019.

7 Simon Steen-Andersen, interview, 10 November 2019.

8 Ibid.

9 Pieter Matthynssens, interview, 21 January 2020.

10 Moore, Thomas R., ‘Conducting Silence: The Use of Conducted and Measured Silences in Michael Maierhof's Zonen 6 for Guitar Orchestra (2007–2008, 2018)’, in FORUM+ (Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press, 2019)Google Scholar.

11 Schubert's sensor pieces: Laplace Tiger (2009), Weapon of Choice (2009), Your Fox's a Dirty Gold (2011) and Point Ones (2012).

12 Alexander Schubert, interview, 3 March 2020.

13 Ibid.

14 Alexander Khubeev: Ghost of Dystopia – Nadar ensemble: https://youtu.be/fpPTaMCQ3YY.

15 Tom De Cock, interview, 22 October 2019.

16 Stefan Prins, interview, 23 August and 10 November 2019.

17 Alexander Schubert, interview, 3 March 2020.

18 Alexander Khubeev, interview, 27 March 2019.

19 James, Paul with Magee, Liam, Scerri, Andy and Steger, Manfred B., Urban Sustainability in Theory and Practice: Circles of Sustainability (London: Routledge, 2015)Google Scholar.

20 Verhaege, Paul, Identiteit (Amsterdam: De Bezige Bij, 2012)Google Scholar.

21 Thomas R. Moore, ‘Hybrid Conductor’, in the proceedings of the International Conference of Live Interfaces, March 2020.

22 Simon Steen-Andersen, interview, 10 November 2019.

23 Ibid.

24 Merriam-Webster: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/economic.

25 Simon Steen-Andersen, interview, 10 November 2019.

26 Carl Rosman, interview, 29 October 2019.

27 Christof Löser, interview, 15 January 2020.

28 Wim Henderickx, interview, 22 January 2020.

29 Jessie Marino, interview, 10 November 2019.

30 Michael Beil, interview, 10 October 2019.

31 Pieter Matthynssens, interview, 21 January 2020.

32 Simon Steen-Andersen, interview, 10 November 2019.

33 Moore, Thomas R., ‘Twisting the Arm of Michael Maierhof: Composer, Performer, Concert Organiser’, TEMPO, 75, no. 295 (2021), pp. 85–93 (Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press)CrossRefGoogle Scholar. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0040298220000698.

34 Wim Henderickx, interview, 22 January 2020.

35 Alexander Schubert, interview, 3 March 2020.

36 Christof Löser, interview, 15 January 2020.

37 Moore, Thomas R., ‘Conducting Silence: The Use of Conducted and Measured Silences in Michael Maierhof's Zonen 6 for Guitar Orchestra (2007–2008, 2018)’ in FORUM+ (Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press, 2019)Google Scholar.

38 Dries Tack, interview, 19 August 2019. (Translation from Flemish by the author.)

39 Tom De Cock, interview, 22 October 2019.

40 Stefan Prins, interview, 23 August and 10 November 2019.