BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Conducting 3

Question 1

Which famous conductor was renowned for conducting without a baton?

Accepted Answer

Leopold Stokowski

Answer

Leopold Stokowski was famous for abandoning the baton entirely and conducting with his bare hands, using expressive finger and arm gestures to shape the orchestral sound.

Question 2

What does 'rallentando' (rall.) indicate to a conductor and performers?

Accepted Answer

A gradual slowing of the tempo

Answer

Rallentando indicates a gradual slowing of the tempo, and the conductor conveys this through progressively broader, slower beat gestures.

Question 3

What does 'a tempo' indicate in a score, and how does a conductor convey it?

Accepted Answer

Return to the original tempo; the conductor resumes the previous beat speed

Answer

'A tempo' instructs performers to return to the original tempo after a deviation such as ritardando, and the conductor signals this by resuming normal beat speed and gesture size.

Question 4

What does 'subito piano' (sp) require of a conductor?

Accepted Answer

A sudden, immediate drop in dynamics without any transitional gesture

Answer

'Subito' means sudden, so subito piano requires the conductor to indicate an abrupt drop in volume with a sharp, decisive gesture rather than a gradual fade.

Question 5

Which meter requires a conducting pattern with two primary beats, each subdivided into three eighth notes?

Accepted Answer

6/8 conducted at a slow tempo (compound duple)

Answer

6/8 at a slow tempo is conducted with 6 separate beats, where two primary beats each contain three eighth-note subdivisions, reflecting compound duple meter.

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Conducting 3