Who are some composers more known for their conducting?

Answer 1

Of course, Leonard Bernstein was probably one of the greatest conductors of all time.

There were some other mentioned names that are true as well.

Also, if you know Jack Stamp, currently living conductor very famous and well respected in the wind-conducting world, makes a good some of money with his compositions as well.

BUT... The point I want to make are 2 of the most famous composers throughout music history who actually helped to establish modern conducting:

Gustav Mahler and Richard Wagner.

Now, we all know that during their era, if you were in charge of an opera house, then you would naturally be conducting the orchestra. However, this applies mainly to Gustav Mahler.

Mahler's ideas behind conducting were about expression. Using physical gesture in order to establish something musically. Before this time, "conducting" was no more than keeping an established beat. Mahler's movements were actually ridiculed for a very long time, because no audience had ever seen someone do what he did. Basically, it derived out of Mahler being a control freak (much like Wagner, whom he idoled) and therefore, Mahler felt that every single possible aspect of the sound being produced had to be entirely within his command at all times.

The reason I mentioned Wagner's name in this, is because of the control that Wagner took over his productions. He sort of "inspired" Mahler with the idea that conducting might actually be able to influence a performance.

One last night about Mahler: He actually made his living as a conductor. During his time, he was most well known for his ability to handle an orchestra and extract beautiful sounds, not for his compositions. He was, in fact, the FIRST such musician.

Answer 2

As Wood already said, Mahler is THE example of a conducting composer or composing conductor. Leonard Bernstein felt himself deeply connected to Mahler because of this and th fact that they where both Jews.
It was Bernstein's frustration that he was considered a great conductor, but not such a great serious composer. People loved West Side Story and other broadway shows, buthis serious compositions where not taken that serious.

The fist example of a conducting composer, was Louis Spohr. He was the first conductor that used a baton and more or less the first conductor as we know.

Pierre Boulez, Was actually first known as a composer but, because of his highly complex, intellectual style, he didn't reach a big audience. So relatively few people know him for that. He was however one of the leading composers of the Darmstadt school during the late 1950s and 1960s.
So he is well known as a composer.

A lot of film composers use to conduct their own music to. John Williams was mentioned and Howard Shore made a world tour conducting his Lord of the Rings Symphony. this Symphony was made from the themes of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.
They are however primarily composers.

Answer 3

Leonard Bernstein is usually known equally for both. JOhn Williams and Michale Kamen ( who I went to the High School of Music and Art, NYC with, and was in composition class with) are both primarily known for composing.

PIerre Boulez, who used to conduct the NY Philharmonic is more known for conducting than composing. Same with Toscannini

Answer 4

Michael Kamen, John Williams , Leonard Bernstein

Answer 5

For me, the first composer who comes to mind who was noted for his conducting was Leonard Bernstein. John Williams is also up there, although I don't think he really compares with Bernstein (my opinion only, of course).

Answer 6

Klemperer and Igor Markevitch are two obvious ones...