Anyone understand orchestral music why do they need a conductor

[Accy cyclist]

One orchestra in Simon Rattles early career immediately nicknamed him -
Baby Rattle

Was it him who formed 'The Rattles'?🤔

 

[Profpointy]

What's the difference between a cow and a symphony orchestra?

A cow has horns at the front and an arse at the back ...

 

[bitsandbobs]

.....Some one in the brass section isn't going to be able to hear if they are drowning out the violas.....

It's important in an orchestra that at least someone is drowning out the violas.

 

[MntnMan62]

They have a drummer who keeps the beat for the rest of them.

Amazing how some people seem oblivious to the fact that it is one thing for a 5 piece rock band to manage without a conductor and an entirely different thing for an orchestra consisting of well over 100 musicians playing in time and in synch with one another. Duh.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I’m only here because my mum traveled from Dublin and ended up working as a Conductor in Birmingham during the Second World War. My dad was driving the bus and c’est la vie…

 

[Profpointy]

We went to quite a good concert where Itzhak Perlman was conducting. I was a bit surprised as I didn't realise he was a conductor as well as a violinist since I don't normally worry about who the band or conductor is for classical gigs but look at what they're playing. Anyhow, for the concerto bit of the concert he of course played his fiddle but and beat time with his bow for the tutti sections.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I’m only here because my mum traveled from Dublin and ended up working as a Conductor in Birmingham during the Second World War. My dad was driving the bus and c’est la vie…

I think we can safely say ''C'est ta vie.''

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Amazing how some people seem oblivious to the fact that it is one thing for a 5 piece rock band to manage without a conductor and an entirely different thing for an orchestra consisting of well over 100 musicians playing in time and in synch with one another. Duh.

It would be surprising to see a quintet with a conductor. And rock is rigid timekeeping, not like the way classical music uses time flexibly.

You will get 100-plus musicians working without a conductor but typically it will be an instrumental concerto, most often led by the pianist or the violinist (as leader of the orchestra or as soloist).

 

[Dag Hammar]

First, a question. I enjoyed watching the video of Zorba The Greek and I’ve often wondered why that film does not come round on the TV. Perhaps no TV broadcaster has bought the rights to show it ?
Second, a big thank you to the contributors of this thread. I particularly enjoyed watching / listening to Ravel’s Bolero and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, great performances 👏👏👏👏👏
And finally, ever since I was a little ‘un I too have wondered why the conductor is there and now I ( think I ) know.