Waving, Not Drowning - Paperback

by Barrington Orwell (Author), Lev Parikian (Author)

Classical music fans looking for guidance on the mysteries of conducting will find answers, and laughs, in this book. Covering everything from baton technique to player psychology to shirt colours and pencil choices and much more besides, Waving, Not Drowning is the indispensable guide to the world of the orchestral conductor. With the tragic death of co-author and doyen of the podium Barrington Orwell in an as yet unexplained contrabassoon accident, it was left to his colleague and friend Lev Parikian to complete the story on his behalf. The result is part biography, part coaching manual, all wisdom.

Author Biography

Lev Parikian is a writer and conductor based in London. He spends a lot of time standing in front of people waving his arms in the hope that sounds will materialise. He also spends a lot of time staring at a computer screen in the hope that words will materialise. He lives in London with his (redacted), (redacted), and three domesticated (and, rest assured, entirely neutralised) (redacted). He has never been to Uzbekistan. Barrington Orwell maintained an incomparable reputation in three-and-a-half decades of almost perpetual employment until his tragic death in an un- explained contrabassoon accident early in 2013.