AN ODE TO CONDUCTION

How's it going to all you blogspot readers. First off I would like to say, let's remember the man who gave us conduction in the musical sense. I know I have been talking about some of the types of composing methods or ways to help out with sight reading but I would like to dedicate this blog the man know as "the inventor of musical conduction" Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris. Morris was born on February 10th, 1947 in Long Beach, California and spent the last four decades of his life in New York. This 65 year old man passed away on January 29th from his long struggle with cancer in New York.
Conduct according to AudioEnglish.net means to 1. direct the course of; manage or control 2. lead, as in a performance or a composition or lead musicians in the performance of.

All these definitions are what Morris did and what he became known for. He redefined the roles of composer, conductor, arranger and performer. The word conduction(a registered trademark) is a term borrowed from Physics. A type of structure free improvisation where Morris directs and conducts an improvising ensemble with a series of hand and baton gestures. (A Conduction® with New England Conservatory. icaboston.org. Web.) This man brought together musicians like a shepard does his herd but Morris brought them together as one joyous sound with great harmony of unified music.
Morris was introduced to improvisation when he moved to New York and got involved in the jazz loft scene. This is where his concept for conduction came to him. 
Morris considered improvisation to be headed for a dead end when he developed conduction - he just wanted to reconcile his composer's mind-set with the ability to lead a group form the podium with improvisational freedom. (Margasak, Peter. Chicago Reader). 
Below is Morris at the Calder Foundation with Poet Interpreters where a conduction composition is constructed. Calder was an American sculptor, the Foundation is devoted to collecting the works of Alexander Calder and below ten vocalist are interpreting one of Calder's writings.

This man has a four page resume that includes his honors, grants and his other major works which gives this man bragging rights as an amazing conductor.