Conducting III

8 December 2016

Observation 7: Symphonic Band, November 10

For this rehearsal, the Symphonic Band worked with Taylor Kobberdahl on a new piece

that she had written. To start, the band ran through her piece while she watched her score. This is

something that I’ve always been interested in, as well -- how a composer works with live

performers to adjust their composition and make improvements. I’ve always been interested in

the production process for things like film scores, so it was fascinating to see a composer work

with an ensemble in this way. It would be strange, I think, to prepare a score for which no live

recording exists. I know that it would be difficult, but I think that it would be a new challenge for

those who are my age and want to become conductors themselves. Up until this point in our

education, we have relied on previous recordings to make musical decisions, both within our

conducting and our own playing. I do know that decision we come to on our own -- without

influence from another interpretation and with our own informed judgement -- stick much longer

in our brains and can be pulled off much more effectively than those decisions that seem to be

made almost subconsciously.

Another thing that Dr. Galyen worked with Taylor on was revoicing some of the chords

that were in her piece. I’m not sure if this was to give her new ideas or if Dr. Galyen noticed a

balance problem, but his suggestions made improvements to the piece that I don’t think could

have been reached without the ensemble right in front of them. Recordings from music programs

like Sibelius and Finale obscure many musical details that require a live ensemble to fully realize

-- specifically in regards to balance, register problems, and attacks. Dr. Galyen worked with
Taylor on revoicing a few chords in the horns and in the saxophones, partially because of

placement within the ensemble, I think, but also because the way she voiced the chords was a

little awkward and was not exactly idiomatic to the instruments she required. Overall, it was

fascinating to observe this rehearsal, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to see the interaction

between composer and conductor. I look forward to hearing more works from Taylor in the

future.