What does concertmaster mean

Whether or not the conductor is consulted regarding bowings is up to the conductor. That means, in many cases, it's up to the concertmaster to determine and mark the bowings, ensuring every string player has a clean copy available before the first rehearsal. In addition to bowing proficiency, this also requires an exceptional musical sense so the bowings reflect the intention and feeling of the composer, the particular time period, the genre, etc.

You may have heard that conductors aren't always easy to work with due to intense and demanding temperaments. That is sometimes the case since the job description prioritizes musical passion, genius, and talent over-and-above people-skills. Even so, as concertmaster, you serve as the ambassador between the conductor and the orchestra.

This can be particularly difficult if your conductor isn't the "warm-and-fuzzy" type, there are personality conflicts or if a new conductor enters the scene and handles things differently than the former conductor. Regardless, it is also up to you to speak up on behalf of the orchestra if the conductor's instructions don't sit right, or seem appropriate, for the situation. For example, in another Strad article, concertmaster Catherine Mackintosh states, "We are specialists in early-music They might ask for a bowing we don't feel is true to the spirit of the music, or be shocked at what they think of as a thin tone and will consequently ask for too much vibrato.

The first-violin position means being as comfortable playing solos as you are playing with the group. On the flip-side of that equation, you must model what it is to be a good orchestral member - willing to blend in with the group to create a unified sound. This requires the rare ability to balance great talent and confidence with humility and the spirit of collaboration. A concertmaster is the "assistant conductor," and must be willing and able to step in on a moment's or second's notice.

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Term » Definition. Word in Definition. Wiktionary 0. Freebase 5. How to pronounce concertmaster? Alex US English. David US English. Mark US English. Daniel British. Libby British. Mia British. Karen Australian.

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Origin of concertmaster —80; translation of German Konzertmeister.