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He then draws on four works by Corigliano, Husa, Gregson, and Bennett as the basis for exploring the expressive potential. Each work is subjected to a searching study of what Dr. Hinton calls “Narrative through Topical Discourse and Structural Content,” in which he isolates what Robert Hatten terms “a hierarchy of oppositions of forms, expressive states, dramatic and narrative elements.” Hinton then leads us into a true appreciation of these elements, showing how an objective analytical view of a work can lead to subjective judgments which shape the conductor’s technical armory. There are no didactic instructions here on how to get a particular sound or attack, but a host of possibilities put before us in the “Theory Into Practice” section of each chapter.
This study is an insightful investigation of the art of conducting. It will give even the most seasoned and experienced practitioner food for thought, and provide a springboard for similar investigations of other great works in our repertoire. It is hard to put this book down, but easy to refer to it in any number of situations.
Timothy Reynish
Founding member and past president of the World Association for Symphonic Bands & Ensembles (WASBE)