As a kid, I just assumed it was aesthetic. Like, someone for an audience of non-musicians to project themselves on to.

As an adult, I recognize that this is almost certainly not the case. Presumably the conductor plays a role that is necessary and helpful to the rest of the orchestra… but I’ll be damned if I can’t quite figure out what that is. Surely its not just timing? Can’t the players just… listen to one another to work that out?

    • CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      7·
      20 days ago

      Bo Burnham’s early work sucks but that does remind me of one of the few non-problematic jokes he had:

      And if there’s a metal train that’s a mile long,
      and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her,
      how long 'til it reaches and kills the driver,
      provided that he’s a good conductor?