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The Saito
conducting method was developed
by Hideo
Saito after he
analysed the gestures of
outstanding conductors in Europe
and Japan in the 1920s and 30s.
Saito was a
cellist who studied in Germany
where he observed the
outstanding conductors of that
time. He became principal
cellist of the new NHK orchestra
under founding conductor Joseph
Rosenstock. The new
orchestra was conducted by
famous guest conductors from all
over the world. Saito was left
wondering why it was easier to
follow and make music with some
of the conductors and more
difficult with others.
Rosenstock, who
had admirable technique, became
Saito's conducting teacher.
Saito came to understand the
ways by which gestures elicit
and shape music.
Saito was one
of the founders of the Toho
Gakuen School of Music where he
taught the method. Morihiro
Okabe, who was in the
first conducting class, became
Saito's teaching assistant and
helped to create a textbook from
Saito's teaching notes. Seiji
Ozawa and Kazuyoshi
Akiyama were early
graduates of the conducting
program. The method has been
refined by Messrs. Okabe and
Akiyama. The original text was
translated into English by Fumihiko
Torigai and edited to
include Okabe's revisions by Wayne
Toews. It was
published in Tokyo in 1988.
After first
studying the method in 1974 in
Courtenay, B.C. Wayne Toews
traveled to Tokyo in 1983 to
study with Morihiro Okabe. Toews
used Saito's method in his daily
work for more than 40 years and
taught it at national and
international conventions, in
university classes and to
private students. He enjoys the
reputation as a first rate
musician and teacher. He has
broad experience with
orchestras, choirs, wind
ensembles and jazz groups.
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This animation
demonstrates a fundamental
gesture in the Saito method
called
Shakui (Shah-kwee).
Notice how this
swinging motion shows a precise
beat point making each beat
clear and allowing each to be
anticipated with ease. It is an
example of an into-point
motion. It is made by
controlling the acceleration and
deceleration of the arm. This
gesture can be varied to show
different articulations,
timbres, subdivisions, and
dynamics. In combination with
from-point motions it provides
conductors with the means to
shape musical phrases.
Click here
to get the details about the
workshops for orchestral, choral
and band conductors. The annual
workshops that began in 2006
have been outstanding successes.
Read HERE.
Join others who want to
communicate clearly and
musically.
An
understanding of Hideo Saito’s
analysis of
conducting gestures empowers
conductors to express their
musical ideas with artistry
and rhythmic precision.
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