Comparison of Performances
Using examples from the first two movements of Kuuki no Sukima, I will compare the conductor’s use of ConDiS across several of the performances. The Harpa (Reykjavik) and Schæffergården (Copenhagen) concerts have been chosen since they were the first and last performances of the Trondheim Sinfonietta Nordic Tour and should, therefore, provide a good cross-section of performance variance.
1stmovement
Example 8
Conducting instructions from measure three of the opening of the 1stmovement.
Figure 81.Kuuki no Sukima 1st movement. Measures 3 – 4.
First I examine the conducting gestures from the concerts at Harpa and Schæffergården:
Conducting at Harpa:
Video example #48: http://caveproduct.com/videos/H_Vol.ctrl_.1.mp4
Conducting at Schæffergården:
Video example #49:http://caveproduct.com/videos/Cph_Vol.ctrl1.mp4
The opening measures of the 1stmovement show that the conductor has an identical way of conducting in each case. This is not a surprise since the use of ConDiS is precisely written in the score.
Example 9
Now let us compare the following section:
Figure 82. Kuuki no Sukima 1stmovement. Measures 18 – 23.
Conducting at Harpa:
Video example #50: http://caveproduct.com/videos/H_Vol.ctrl_.2.mp4
Conducting at Schæffergården:
Video example #51: http://caveproduct.com/videos/Cph_Vol.ctrl2_.mp4
Although it is not written in the score, the conductor in this excerpt activates the volume value control at a very similar point in each performance. At the Harpa concert, the conductor activates the volume value control a bit earlier then decides to wait till after the flute has ended. Then similarly to the Schæffergården concert, she activates it again just before the horn but deactivates it sooner in Harpa. Recall that the Harpa concert was the first of four concerts and Schæffergården the last. It is obvious that when conducting the last performance, the conductor has become much more comfortable and familiar with the use of the ConDiS conducting system.
Example 10
Again, the conductor follows the instructions written in the score.
Figure 83. Kuuki no Sukima 1st movement. Measures 83 – 90.
Conducting at Harpa:
Video example #52: http://caveproduct.com/videos/H_Vol.ctrl_.3.mp4
Conducting at Schæffergården:
Video example #53:http://caveproduct.com/videos/Cph_Vol.ctrl3.mp4
The conductor perfectly follows the lines drawn in the instructions.
Example 11
Finally, the closing measures of the 1stmovement. The conductor follows the written instructions identically.
Figure 84. Kuuki no Sukima 1st movement. Measures 104 – end.
Conducting at Harpa:
Video example #54: http://caveproduct.com/videos/H_Vol.ctrl_.6.mp4
Conducting at Schæffergården:
Video example #55:http://caveproduct.com/videos/Cph_Vol.ctrl7.mp4