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Hello, my name is Duane Carter and, on behalf of Expert Village, I will be talking about
band conducting. Church choirs were essentially the only type of musical ensembles during
the 15th and 16th centuries. The choir director would use his hands to conduct the music.
Since chants were free flowing, there was no need for a strict measurement of time.
The director's sign of office was his staff. The staff was held in his left hand while
he conducted with this right hand. As music became more polyphonic and more instrumental
music was used, he would use the staff to keep time by moving it up and down; much like
a drum major uses a mace. By the 18th and 19th centuries, orchestras grew larger. In
order for all of the orchestra to see what the conductor was doing, he would use a baton,
a wooden stick, usually painted white, so that all could see. He used this baton to
keep time as strict time was necessary in a polyphonic, large orchestra.