The Grammar of Conducting: A Comprehensive Guide to Baton Technique and Interpretation

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Summary: Book Description, Author Information
Review: "It is, quite simply, a necessary acquisition for the library of every conductor who is serious about the art."-Journal of the Conductors' Guild

Since it was first published in 1950, this has been the standard conducting text. Providing a comprehensive introduction to the techniques and practical concerns of leading an orchestra, the text proceeds from basic conducting patterns to sophisticated explorations of performance and rehearsal techniques.

Max Rudolf was a conductor with the Metropolitan Opera from 1945 to 1958, music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and teacher of generations of conductors.

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Summary: The most comprehensive conducting book ever, period.
Review: If you ever wanted to know anything (repeated for emphasis: anything) about conducting, this is truly your book. Related somewhat to Leinsdorf's Composer's Advocate, this book contains every topic on conducting I was able to conceive of. Beat patterns, as well as orchestral exerpts, are given to the reader to illustrate many important tips that (I'm sure) the aspiring conductor will find quite useful. If you, in your wildest dreams, have ever even once contemplated conducting, you will want to sincerely consider this book.

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Summary: Simply Not That Valuable
Review: This is the standard conducting text for major music schools in America (for example, I use it at the music school I attend). It's a fantastic book, with many elaborate and descriptive drawings to help the student along. There are hundreds of examples and exercises to help learn all the techniques and there are several additional sections on rehearsal, conducting opera, choir, and band, score preperation suggestions, notes on styles of certain composers and conductors, and sections about bowed string parts.

Rating:
Summary: The BEST Conducting Text for Modern Conductors
Review: This is the standard conducting text for major music schools in America (for example, I use it at the music school I attend). It's a fantastic book, with many elaborate and descriptive drawings to help the student along. There are hundreds of examples and exercises to help learn all the techniques and there are several additional sections on rehearsal, conducting opera, choir, and band, score preperation suggestions, notes on styles of certain composers and conductors, and sections about bowed string parts.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Not That Valuable
Review: When I was a conducting student in the USA I was largely taught from this book. I found it simplistic then and still feel the same. It is not in the same league as something like Gunther Schuller's The Complete Conductor, Prausnitz' Score and Podium, or the more recent Morgenstern No Vivaldi in the Garage.