A Place I Want to Be

By Yehun Kim

A very devout subscriber of Rolling Stone Korea is an avid listener of popular music, but also very interested in classical music, and wants to attend a symphony. But according to some of the things that this person has heard, classical symphonies have a very sophisticated culture, a bit tedious, and many etiquettes to follow… Will he or she be able to attend a classical symphony ever? 

Though this scenario is made up, in reality, there are many people with this sort of dilemma. The standard for classical music has always been high. We are proud of our historical and prestigious content here at Rolling Stone Korea magazine, and very excited to introduce a columnist from the world of classical music. My desire is for the readers to have a better understanding about the culture of classical music, and that if you happen to have the same dilemma as the person in the scenario above, I hope these Q&A will help you to attend a classical symphony in the near future. 

# Must one always be formally dressed when attending a classical symphony?

No, that is not always the case. As long as your attire is appropriate and courteous to others, you can dress comfortably. In Europe during the outdoor summer festivals, the audience would make themselves comfortable by lying on the grass and drinking while enjoying the music festivals. 

# Who is the concertmaster in the orchestra? 

Before the concert begins and the conductor comes in, the one violinist who leads the orchestra into tuning their instrument is the concertmaster. The level of hierarchy is very strict in the orchestra culture. The concertmaster sits in front of the first violin group (just left of the conductor) and leads the orchestra with the conductor. The concertmaster also take on the essential role of communicating and resorting between the conductor and the rest of the orchestra members. Different from Europe, in America and Asia, the concertmaster will come to the stage, give an introduction, and will be the first one to shake their hands with the conductor when the symphony is over. 

# Why does the orchestra tune accordingly with the oboe? 

Before the symphony begins, the entire orchestra will tune to the sound of the oboe in the key of “A.” The reason being is because of the bright and clear tone of the oboe, which assembles very well with the rest of the instruments, and can be heard from afar. The oboe also happens to be the instrument that is least affected by the temperature and the humidity, which makes their tone very consistent. 

# Why can’t there be any applause in between the pieces? 

Normally a symphony consists of four movements, while a concerto consists of three, and it is a common courtesy not to clap between the pieces. The main reason for being is so to make sure that the fluidity of the music will not be interrupted. It’s just like when we are talking and when we get interrupted. It disrupts the flow. The conductor and the orchestra concentrate and focus on an immense level in order to maintain that vital connection that enables the flow of the atmosphere. However, in 1813 at the end of the 2nd movement at the premiere of Beethoven’s 7th symphony, the performance was so magnificent that the audience members enthusiastically applauded, and the orchestra played it again before moving on to the 3rd movement. If what you witness are not rare and magnificent such as this case, the silent tension will play a better role in transitioning to the next part. Even if a piece were to end in silence, one must restrain themselves from clapping only until the conductor has lowered their arms entirely, mainly because the lingering moment only adds onto the emotion of the music. One must know that silence is also part of music, and the sound of nothing embraces it entirely, enhancing the appreciation for the work. 

# Why does the conductor and the instrumentalists continue to enter and exit after the finale? 

The technical term for this is called a, “curtain call,” and is an expression to give appraise and appreciation for the conductor and the musicians who took part in the stage in order to bring them back. At times, they may even reciprocate by playing an encore for being appreciated. The number of curtain calls can sometimes measure the success of the concert. In Paris, France, the concert halls have a very unique tradition when the curtain call begins, everyone claps like a marching band in unison, which aligns with the orchestra’s music. If you're taken away by the music in the orchestra halls, feel free to applaud for a curtain call. Clapping is also good for blood circulation and will benefit your health. 

# Why does an orchestra need a conductor? 

In order to know the role of the conductor, you must first understand the nature of the orchestra. In general, the number of members in an orchestra can be from a dozen to as much as 100 members, and is divided into various instruments such as the string, wind, and percussion. These professional instrumentalists have studied and mastered these arts for a long period of time. Most of them have strong individualist traits and are very assertive about their music, meaning that even if they all play the same score, each one of them will have their own interpretations. If a score with a very complex composition is to be played by these intellectual beings, they can all become confused without any standards to match their tempos and styles. Which is the very reason as to why a conductor is needed for a symphony. They must be there to create the unity within each instrumentalists’ own interpretation of the music, and must do so by being in the center. In the earlier times, conductors were there merely just to control the traffic of the rhythm and tempo, but through the Renaissance, conductors themselves became maestros in their professions, and began to express arts in their own ways. They became a very essential part of the orchestra after Beethoven’s symphony in the 19th century, where orchestra and classical music grew immensely with complexity. SInce then, conductors have become the leaders in this league. 

# Is it possible to play a score without the conductor?

It is possible if the number of the orchestra is small, and their score is simple. But even in these times, there is a leader that must take the role as the conductor within the band members, and will conduct as they play. In these cases, everyone in the ensemble must be extra focused and strongly oriented. Italy’s “I Musici,” as well as Korea’s “Korean Chamber Orchestra (formerly known as, ‘Seoul Baroque Ensemble’)” are famous in representing this form of orchestra. 

# So what does the conductor do exactly?

The conductor is the only musician that cannot make any sounds, but must only express their music by leading. For one to do this, a conductor must have a comprehensive knowledge about the music and the instruments involved in the score, so that they may freely express their own interpretation of the music using the orchestra. If the composer’s role is to create a new music, the role of the conductor is to be the messenger that delivers the message of the composer to the audience by giving it a new life. This is why rehearsals are a very important part of the process, as the conductor must deliver his interpretation of the original message to the members of the orchestra, and to make understand the depths of the sympathy for the music. Conductors are commonly called, “Maestros,” which comes from the Italian word for “teacher,” which gives them the responsibility of becoming the master of the orchestra. Leadership, musical ability, that will gain the trust of the members are some of the important virtues that conductors must have in order to lead an orchestra. 

# Lastly, what does it mean when a score changes according to the conductor? 

This is like having the same recipes, but the dish differs depending on the chef, and having the same lines, but feeling different depending on the actors. Performances will vary and become possible due to subjective interpretations, even if the same score is played. This isn’t limited just to the conductor, but is applied to all of the classical performances, which makes classical music so charming. If there is a certain music or a song that you like, take a listen to the different ways various musicians have expressed it. You’ll be able to enjoy every bite of the musical dish, served by different musical chefs. 



 

Yehun Kim /

studied classical music in South Korea, France, and the United States. He currently stays in South Korea with his family and works as a conductor, professor, and journalist.