GIA Publications The Conductor's Triangle - Jordan - Book

Author: James Jordan
Format: Book
Category: Text

Embodied Conducting and Connection: Wisdoms Derived from a Forty-Year Case Study

In The Conductor's Triangle, Grammy-nominated conductor James Jordan - seventh conductor of the renowned Westminster Choirilluminates the core of expressive conducting. At the heart of every great performance, Jordan reveals, lies a dynamic triangle connecting gesture, communication, and artistry.

Drawing on a remarkable "accidental case study" from his first high school choir more than forty years ago, Jordan traces how his students' insights - and the influence of his mentor, Elaine Brown - shaped his understanding of conducting as both human science and artistic communion.

With clarity, wisdom, and practical guidance, Jordan reframes conducting pedagogy around human connection rather than technique alone. He challenges teachers and conductors to embrace a "less is more" approach - one grounded in authentic communication, emotional awareness, and deep ensemble trust.

The Conductor's Triangle is both a philosophy and a framework for anyone seeking to elevate their conducting to an act of shared artistry and profound human connection.

James Jordan is a Grammy-nominated conductor and seventh conductor of the Westminster Choir. He is Conductor Emeritus at Westminster Choir College. He is the author of more than sixty books on conducting and conducting pedagogy, and numerous recordings under the GIA ChoralWorks label. He is founding director of The Choral Academy of Evoking Sound, www.thechoralacademy.com, a groundbreaking platform for continuing study for musicians.