Beethoven Symphony no 8, mvt 4
Beethoven liked to conduct his own music and being Beethoven, he did so in a very over-the-top style. Here’s how to conduct the Beethoven way!
1. Conductors use their baton, their face and their bodies to help show how they want to music to sound.
2. Beethoven’s music often had lots of contrasts within it. Often one piece would quickly shift from soft and gentle to loud and angry and then back again within seconds. When conducting, if Beethoven wanted quiet music he would crouch down low. If it was spiky he would perform spiky gestures with his hands. If it was smooth he would dance and sway. If it was loud he would make himself really big. If it was bouncy he would jump up and down. Even his face would match the music’s mood. Sometimes he would even grunt and shout along with it!
3. Listen to his 8th symphony mvt 4 (above at 0’50) and have a go at conducting just like him! Be warned: there are lots of shifts and changes of mood. Can you keep up?