PREFACE
Conducting is an art, and a difficult one to master.
It requires a special talent, enthusiasm, great nervous vitality; a serious study of the works written by the masters of music; the magnetic power of forcing the executants to carry out the conductor’s demands; infinite patience, great tenacity, great self-control, and absolute knowledge of the technique of the baton.
The last is a complete sign language through and by which the conductor issues his commands and achieves his results.
With the baton and an infinite variety of movements of hand, wrist and arm, the conductor indicates the tempo and its changes, the dynamics, the expression, and in fact all the inner spirit and meaning of the music.
He insures precision and unanimity whether his executants number one hundred or one thousand, and plays upon them as the pianist upon his keyboard or the violinist upon the strings of his Cremona.
Much of this must be inborn, but much can be acquired by study. Mr. Albert Stoessel’s book will be of great help to the earnest student.
Mr. Stoessel was appointed teacher of conducting in the Bandmasters’ School, which I founded during the war at General Pershing’s request at G. H. Q., Chaumont, France.
His book is admirably planned and executed. It is clear, practical and stimulating, and I hope it will be generally used throughout the country.
The lack of routine and the ignorance of even the simplest rudiments of the art of “beating time” is appalling among many of our conductors, organists and choir-masters. Mr. Stoessel’s book should be of great help to them.
(Signed)Walter Damrosch.
July 4th, 1920