05/18/2026
A martinet is a strict disciplinarian - a term synonymous with authoritarian, bully, despot, enforcer, stickler, and taskmaster! In Italian, -issimo endings are called absolute superlatives; they translate as 'very', 'extremely', 'really', or even 'the most'. There are numerous stories about conductor Leopold Stokowski that bear witness to his very accurate self-description!
Stowkowski's recording reveals the fruits of his strict relationship with the intonation (pitch) of the orchestra and the technical aspects of playing a musical instrument. Conductors do much more than simply wave a baton to beat the time. Great conductors use rehearsal time to listen to and guide the finer details of the music.
I have heard numerous conductors singling out a musician in a small ensemble to make a note slightly higher or lower in order to sweeten the chord. When I was the assistant principal violist of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, I have also been on the receiving end of the viola section being told to play more aggressively, gentler, or more staccato, etc. A great conductor holds a watchful ear on everything that is going on in the entire orchestra.
"Leopold Anthony Stokowski (1882-1977) was a British conductor who is best known for creating the unique sound of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he was music director for 25 years. His engaging personality and sense of showmanship brought him unprecedented popularity for a symphonic conductor." (Wikipedia)
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