Conducting Study 14

Today, we have several things to consider in this short fragment from a recent ACDA divisional conference performance: asymetrical meter, mixed meter, and even a bit of cheironomy.  We only have four measures to consider, but they are chock-full of information.

In the initial measure (following a preparatory gesture), our colleague starts the work with a downward motion for the downbeat.  Note, though, that in the second and third measures she uses and UPward gesture to indicate beat one.  The use of cheironomy, with its upward flow helps prevent any percussiveness on the downbeat.   Another consideration is the asymmetrical meter – in this case 5/8.  Rather than employ a standard two-pattern, our colleague utilizes a large circle for the initial group of three eighth-notes with a smaller circle (contained inside the previous circle’s orbit) for the second group of two eighth-notes.  Finally, then, in the fourth measure in 6/8, she uses a standard three-pattern with downward motion for “one.”