The Brass Band Forum

Hi

Our conductor insists on putting rubato into hymn tunes.

I disagree with the conductor who uses rubato. It drives me insane, as when I went to another band rehearsal up at Kirkby Lonsdale, their conductor DIDINT use rubato.

Should you use Rubato in hymn tunes? I know they are quite often homophonic with block chords. I should know I studied Bach choral and cadences; yuck!!

Would like to hear any thought on it, and hope that my band conductor doesn’t read this!!

As a conductor I use rubato when I feel it suits the piece. Number 1 in the red hymn book, Aberystwith, is one that suits. I pull this one around a lot. As a player I'm not bothered what the conductor does, I try to be sympathetic and adapt my style to suit.