Three-armed robot conductor

[Quijote]

Three-armed robot conductor makes debut in Dresden

German city’s Sinfoniker says aim is not to replace humans but to play music human conductors would find impossible

[Quijote]

I forgot the link (not a paywall, click on "I'll do it later") :

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-debut-dresden

[Chris]

If a human conductor finds it impossible, how much could human listeners really enjoy it?

[Quijote]

If a human conductor finds it impossible, how much could human listeners really enjoy it?

The article quotes the artistic director of Dresden’s Sinfoniker, Markus Rindt, who said said the intention was “not to replace human beings” but to perform complex music that human conductors would find impossible. Rindt said he had the idea of stepping aside for a sophisticated robot 23 years ago while rehearsing an intricate composition. One of the bassoonists told the conductor: “You’re conducting the clarinets in 3/4 time and I have 5/8, a totally different tempo – what should I do, no one is conducting me?” And the conductor answered: “I’m not a robot.”
I'm no conductor but I'm sure you'd agree that giving the beat for the overall ensemble in 3/4 time against a 5/8 part for other individual instruments would be no mean feat! That said, knowing that 3/4 is the equivalent of 6 quavers (6 eighth notes in US paralance), it shouldn't be too hard for the bassoonist to feel the overall 3/4 beat and place his or her 5 quavers, in other words 5 quavers in the space of 6 quavers.
Also, what a conductor may find hard to beat does not necessarily mean that the audience does not appreciate, enjoy or truly feel the polyrhythms being attempted.

[Chris]

If it's something that sounds sensible to a listener, I would think a musician would not need the conductor keeping his exact beat. Maybe some simultaneous metronomes could help during rehearsal or part learning, but by the time of the performance, that should be all sorted out. If it really is something that requires conducting that one person cannot do alone, why not add a second conductor? That actually sounds interesting.

[Sorrano]

Three-armed robot conductor makes debut in Dresden

German city’s Sinfoniker says aim is not to replace humans but to play music human conductors would find impossible

For some reason, Bartok came to mind.