Analysis Of Igor Stravinsky’s Critique Of Conductors

Igor Stravinsky shows his impolite opinion about orchestra conductors and of their own demeanor. Stravinsky expresses his contemptuous feelings towards the conductors' imperfections in their personalities. Stravinsky's use of figurative language and egotistical diction reveals his opinion that conductors are insignificant to an orchestra finds them to be an intrusion. Stravinsky judges orchestra conductors in this passage with his usage of “egotistical diction”. Stravinsky states, “The successful conductor can be an incomplete musician but he must be a compleat angler”. This expresses that conductors are far better at “hooking” their audience than they are at actually playing the music. This shows that conductors “compensate, not by becoming better at music, but by making the audience believe they are better at music.” Stravinsky describes conducting as an “ego disease”. The nature of an “ego disease” leads to the idea that orchestra conductors are important as the idea infects more people. Stravinsky describes the position of orchestra conductor as a “purely egotistical, false, and arbitrary authority”. The language asserts Stravinsky’s conclusion that the conductors are driven not by musical talent but by their own ego. By saying they are egotistical, false, and arbitrary, Stravinsky ends with the saying that conductors have no other purpose than to stand between the orchestra and the audience and look like the most important person in the room. Stravinsky’s use of diction expresses his dislike of conductors.

Through figurative language Stravinsky shows his frustration in conductors being more skilled than they actually are in reality. As a composer, Stravinsky is overshadowed by the conductor. The conductor, lacking any of his own musical talent, makes composers’ like Stravinsky’s music to fit his style and take the majority of the credit. However, in his field, this does not necessarily mean that the conductor is any good talent-wise. Stravinsky's use of a simile was used to show how the approval of the audience causes a conductor to grow deeper into their ego and self centered mindset. In the story the author states that “disease grows like a tropical weed under the sun of a pandering public” and the author stated that “arbitrary authority”. This idea states that conductors do more is beginning to grow and people are more attentive to the composer rather than the conductor.

The author's use of hyperbole and allusion was shown to talk about the conductors. In the story Stravinsky stated that “If you are incapable of listening, the conductor will show you what to feel” and “will act out a life of Napoleon.” This quote shows how conductors like to act and they might even believe in their heads that they are superior and act like they are the ones that have created the music. The author states that people “fall into the trap” of looking at the conductors appearance rather than listening to the music and these group of conductors could even be considered a “cult”. The author is stating that people do not focus on the music when the conductors are around but rather are intrigued by the appearance of the conductors which can cause the conductors to feel inferior. The conductors could be considered a cult because they think so highly of themselves and they can start to believe in their heads that they run the whole orchestra because without them nobody could come. Stravinsky also states that a “successful conductor can be an incomplete musician.” but have to be a “compleat angler”. The author is trying to state that just because you are a conductor does not mean that you are a professional in understanding and knowing how to teach music. Also in being a conductor even though you are not a whole musician you have to learn how to become a master at it. Stravinsky has a strong disliking to conductors and how useless they are on the stage. He dislikes how they barely have to put in any effort in conducting, but they get the most attention on the stage rather than the composers.

In this story, Igor Stravinsky has his own opinions about conductors and their own demeanor. He expresses his emotions about how conductors are very ego driven at what they do and only do things for their own personal gain. Stravinsky uses figurative language and egotistical diction to reveal his opinion about conductors. Stravinksy finds conductors to be a waste of space because even though he is a composer who does most of the work the most recognition is shown the conductors. Also conductors have a big ego so they believe that they are superior in actuality most of them do not even have enough knowledge to have a profession in music and Stravinsky feels as if it is unfair to him. He puts the time in making and creating the musical and all the conductor does is direct the performance.