From gesture to image: the conductor’s activity in the aspect of musical communication

Abstract

The activity of a conductor requires significant competences, knowledge, skills and abilities used in working with a team of musicians. Ukrainian humanitarian studies hardly cover issues related to the interaction of the conductor with the orchestra during the rehearsal process. Depending on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the orchestra and creative tasks, the conductor may use different means of communication, which makes this profession complex and to some extent unpredictable. To identify the role of verbal and non-verbal means of communication, audio and video recordings of rehearsals of world-famous conductors with leading orchestras were processed and analysed. The novelty of the article lies in addressing the issue of conductor communication from both scientific and practical perspectives, as well as in focusing on the importance of non-verbal communication and its effectiveness in the rehearsal process. The work will contribute to broadening the understanding of the work of famous contemporary conductors and will help current and future conductors to anticipate or avoid difficulties that facilitate or hinder interaction with orchestra members during joint performances and may be related to the lack of research on musical communication.