As a kid, I just assumed it was aesthetic. Like, someone for an audience of non-musicians to project themselves on to.

As an adult, I recognize that this is almost certainly not the case. Presumably the conductor plays a role that is necessary and helpful to the rest of the orchestra… but I’ll be damned if I can’t quite figure out what that is. Surely its not just timing? Can’t the players just… listen to one another to work that out?

  • CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    7·
    4 months ago

    Bo Burnham’s early work sucks but that does remind me of one of the few non-problematic jokes he had:

    And if there’s a metal train that’s a mile long,
    and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her,
    how long 'til it reaches and kills the driver,
    provided that he’s a good conductor?