Listen to “Keeping the Beat: Custom-Made Conducting Batons”

Written by Jeff Greenwald, Contributing Editor
Narrated by Jeff Greenwald, Contributing Editor

A good conductor can lead an orchestra with almost anything — even a chopstick. Leonard Bernstein was known to conduct a full symphony with just his eyebrows. Why, then, in this age of cheap manufacturing, are handmade, customized batons still in demand?

Written by JEFF GREENWALD
Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE
Narrated by JEFF GREENWALD
Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by Town Market by Blue Dot Sessions
Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions
Beethoven’s Sixth (Pastorale) Symphony
Jean-Baptiste Lully: “Armide”
Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” by Sinfonia de Galicia
Music of the Ancient World: Sumerian Music I

Written by JEFF GREENWALD

Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Narrated by JEFF GREENWALD

Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by Town Market and Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions, Beethoven’s Sixth (Pastorale) Symphony, Jean-Baptiste Lully: "Armide", Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade" by Sinfonia de Galicia, Music of the Ancient World: Sumerian Music I

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Jeff Greenwald, Contributing Editor, is a writer, photojournalist, and stage performer. He is the author of nine books, including "Shopping for Buddhas" and "The Size of the World," for which he created the internet's first travel blog. His latest book is "108 Beloved Objects."