Download Conducting Divided Beat Patterns

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Conducting Divided Beat Patterns
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Gordon Lamb
This work is produced by OpenStax-CNX and licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0
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Abstract
This module discusses and illustrates how to conduct divided beat patternsusually when a slow
tempo creates the need to show by gesture the division of the meter. Beat patterns are given and musical
examples are provided for practice.
1 DIVIDED BEAT PATTERNS
The normal beat patterns will not seem sucient to control the rhythm when the tempo is quite slow. It
is then that one must use a divided beat pattern. The diagrams in gure 1 indicate the normal division of
beats within duple, triple, and quadruple meter. These are the meters in which the conductor will nd most
of the necessity for division of beats. Any other beat patterns can be modied from those listed.
Figure 1
Conductors should be certain to maintain a stronger gesture on the principal beats. One must also be
careful not to make the gestures of beats two and three so far to the left and right that the last half of those
beats becomes dicult to indicate comfortably.
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The musical excerpt from Mozart's Missa Brevis in F is an instance when a conductor may conduct a
divided pattern (see g. 2.
It should be stated though, that a conductor will not use a divided pattern often. It is reserved for the
true moments when the music can only be controlled by dividing the beat. If this technique is used where
it is not needed, the music will become somewhat choppy or ponderous from a continuous pulsing of notes
that should not receive a stress.
There are also times when a conductor will wish to divide the beat to indicate a slowing of the tempo.
This may occur at a point of a ritard or allargando. The conductor should take care not to divide the beat to
indicate the weak portion of the beat when it is not necessary. Occasionally, conductors attempt to give too
many indications of extra notes by subdividing the beat in an attempt to help the singer sing the notes at
the right time. Some conductors have even attempted to conduct the rst two notes of the national anthem,
presumably in an eort to be sure that each note is sung. The same is also attempted with "of Thee" of
My Country 'Tis of Thee. This type of conducting only leads to nonmusical performances and to ensemble
confusion.
Works that contain examples of divided beats:
1. Missa Brevis in F (Agnus Dei), Mozart, G. Schirmer
2. "Crucixus" from Mass in B minor, J. S. Bach, entire work published by G. Schirmer, single octavo
published by Bourne Publishing Co., #750
3. "Kyrie" from Coronation Mass, K. 317, Mozart, Breitkopf and Hartel
Figure 2
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Figure 3
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Figure 4
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Figure 5
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Figure 6
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AGNUS DEI, By Wolgang Amadeus Mozart, Copyright 1950 (Renewed) by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP),
International Copyright Secured, All Rights Reserved
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