Baton (conducting)

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A baton is the small stick used by conductors to lead a group of musicians, either choral, instrumental, or both. They are usually made of wood, but may also be made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. Felix Mendelssohn was the first known conductor to use a baton to keep time.^{[citation needed]}

Most professional conductors use batons, though some prefer to use their hands only. Batons are always held in the right hand. ^[1]

Batons come in different lengths ranging from 10" to about 18" or 20" and different shape handles the taper and "pear" shaped are the most common.

The record for the world's largest baton is currently held by Kenton J. Hetrick, who on 14 October 2006 conducted the Harvard University Band in the introduction to "Also Sprach Zarathustra" with a baton 10 feet long.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ The Modern Conductor, by Elizabeth A. Green.
2. ^ Article in the Harvard Crimson