Ask Marilyn

Dear Marilyn, When I attend a classical music concert, I see that the conductor arrives on stage and shakes hands with the concertmaster before he does anything more. Why does this ritual exist? —Wendell Driggers, Reston, Virginia

Ah, ‘tis the season for classical music! Symphony orchestras have many formalities that delight—and occasionally perplex—their audiences. They are all part of the refinement of classical music itself, so they’re a fitting accompaniment to the complexities of the compositions.

The tradition you mention has its roots in the days before orchestras were led by conductors. Before then, the concertmaster, usually the most skilled musician in the violin section, led the orchestra. (Other musicians also filled this role.) So, a modern conductor shakes hands with the concertmaster to “take over” the lead.

Speaking of the intricacy of classical music, I once attended a performance of the New York Philharmonic to hear them play selections of especially loved themes from movies, accompanied by scenes from the films. I expected that with a symphony orchestra performing the works, they would be even better. Was I ever wrong! Although they were enhanced by the live performance, fine musicians had already performed them for the films, so the selections were as pleasing as they were at the theater, but they sounded mostly the same—not better. Then I realized that they lacked the stunning complexity of those classical music scores composed in bygone eras. Back then, movies didn’t exist. The music itself was everything. It had to capture the listeners and transport them to fabulous places entirely on its own. What a feat! No wonder it has lasted so long.