Expert: Donald - 10/7/2006

Question
Why do many choral conductors conduct only with the hands and not with baton?

Answer
Hi Nancy,

This is a very astute question! You obviously are knowledgeable about music and pay attention to the nuance of musical performance.

Conducting is an extremely expressive art form. Baton technique is a skill that can take years to develop. That being the case, it does seem odd that choral conductors choose to use their hands without a baton. There are a few reasons that make sense for this practice.

The size of the group can determine this choice. Larger groups require the use of a baton more often than smaller ones. This is true for visual reasons. Performers need to see where the beat is, and this becomes more difficult as size increases. Smaller groups can often do very well without the aid of a baton. It can be a bit pretentious for a conductor to utilize a baton when the group is right in front of the conductor and there are only a few singers. The hope is that the choice to use a baton or not is driven by the music itself and the performing forces, rather than the conductor's ego.

Tempo can also play an important role in the choice to use a baton, or not. Quicker tempi, or mixed meters, necessitate a baton for the sake of rhythmic accuracy. The point of a baton can help the performers find the ictus (or point) of the beat. This helps to preserve ensemble in regard to entrances, cut-offs, and tempi.

Finally, expressive considerations can lead a conductor to abandon a baton. Pieces with flowing phrases (legato passages), or pieces that are slower can be conducted very effectively without a baton. In addition, choral conductors like to use their hands to help shape the phrase. This is particularly important to vocal music because of the implication of syllabic inflection and emphasis as it relates to phrasing. Using the hands can enable a skilled conductor to help singers with the rounding of phrases at the end. This avoids "popping" the phrase by singing the last syllable of a phrase too loud. Textual expression is the essence of good choral singing. Some pieces are more naturally bent towards conducting without a baton. Often, groups that sing music without accompaniment do so without the "benefit" of a conductor's baton.

Ultimately, it is a personal choice for the conductor to use hands only or a baton. I hope that the choice is based on factors related to the music and the performing forces, rather than whim or ego.