It's why I enjoy watching Vienna Philharmonic's Neujahrskonzert when they play Radetzky March. The audience clapping along while being guided by the conductor breaks this convention in classical music of remaining silent while a piece is being played, while they also get to be a part of the music and having fun along the way.
For a future episode - maybe talk about the practice of encores. I find that whole thing very awkward. I don't like that the conductor / soloist walks offstage only to come back if applause continues. They sometimes stay off stage so long and clapping goes on so long it feels really awkward and not genuine. And, as a performer - how bad is it if you exit stage and audience begins to leave thinking it is over. I like when a performer states something at end of concert to talk a bit and then say we have one more we would like to play as an ending - thank you for coming.
You mention the theatre where actors were. Well, in Greek an actor was called an 'Ipokrites' from where we get the English word 'hypocrite'. Someone who wears a mask...
I would add that any reaction during a classical performance is also influenced strongly by the country or region where it takes place. I've seen recent orchestral performances where the audience, overcome with joyous abandon, begins to clap along with the beat of the orchestral.
That might be okay for a celebration concert full of marches, folk tunes or patriotic songs, but it has no place in a traditional concert. The audience comes to hear the music, not Goober slapping his hands and stomping his feet.
I remember being in an open-air concert where the orchestra played the overture of La Gazza Ladra. Many already clapped at the long pause near the beginning of the piece. I just winced then laughed.
I think the lone, rowdy guy is just ahead of his time. Eventually those staid, stoic audiences must give way to more lively expressions of enjoyment, in order for the artform to "feel alive" with the times.
i'm all for applause if it is warranted by the energy of the music. i'm also a regular attendee of all things contemporary music, in such that the audience applauds a lot. its a niche here in winnipeg. but its something we embrace as a collective community of all things contemporary.
And here all this time I thought it was only appropriate to wave my toga at baseball games. Who knew I could take that practice to a classical music venue as well👏 📣 😄
I find that audiences in England tend to engage in competitive clapping, which is not a trend that I like. Also, in a lot of works, there is a rest after the last note. That is part of the music, and you should not clap over it. The conductor will hold their arms in the air, a pianist will have their hands above the keys; while playing that rest. So wait for them to finish it before clapping.
Another fantastic video! Congratulations, always, to the team, the ideas and the top quality of everything! And the guide of references is so important! Thanks for that, too! 🥰
A couple of years ago, I was at a performance and after the first piece, there was a single person who started to clap. I cannot imagine how he must have felt when he or she realized what was going on. And maybe, we need a way for performers to tell us if they would appreciate it or not and then the audience can simply act on that preference.
The future will have only heart-felt genuine applause (better if in the form of a spontaneous roar of approval) wherever it is rated in a work. I've seen this with kids at a Disney movie, where they spontaneously clap after the good numbers, and do not clap after the lame ones...
For me, the nature of the music itself is what determines the audience response. Rock & roll music tends to be rowdy and raucous, so if the audience response is the same, that is okay. But classical music is generally more sedate by comparison, so I would expect the audience response to be the same. In other words, hold applause until the end, and being less boisterous in reaction to the performance. BTW, this was an excellent production. *polite applause here* 😉
Great video well done. I would welcome a change. But what level and how? Classical performance is not jazz or bluegrass but there are performances that lend themselves to expressions of audience appreciation. Why not after a movement that moves you? I recently attended a performance by Early Music Seattle where the performers amusingly encouraged expressions of appreciation or otherwise consistent with the period the baroque compositions were composed and performed. As you might guess, the audience was not prepared for that experience.
IMO - the practice of not clapping is what keeps people away from classical concerts lending more and more to the feeling it is very snobbish. How is a person who is not familiar with classical to enjoy it if they aren't aware of this convention - starts to clap - then embarrassed and then might never return. I've heard that the musicians themselves feel it breaks the concentration and mood of the musicians. I say rubbish to that - they are performing for the enjoyment of the audience. This practice of being quiet should end. You can see by Andre Rieu's success in packing whole stadiums full that people will attend if you make it more fun and not so stuffy.
It's why I enjoy watching Vienna Philharmonic's Neujahrskonzert when they play Radetzky March. The audience clapping along while being guided by the conductor breaks this convention in classical music of remaining silent while a piece is being played, while they also get to be a part of the music and having fun along the way.
For a future episode - maybe talk about the practice of encores. I find that whole thing very awkward. I don't like that the conductor / soloist walks offstage only to come back if applause continues. They sometimes stay off stage so long and clapping goes on so long it feels really awkward and not genuine. And, as a performer - how bad is it if you exit stage and audience begins to leave thinking it is over. I like when a performer states something at end of concert to talk a bit and then say we have one more we would like to play as an ending - thank you for coming.
You mention the theatre where actors were. Well, in Greek an actor was called an 'Ipokrites' from where we get the English word 'hypocrite'. Someone who wears a mask...
I would add that any reaction during a classical performance is also influenced strongly by the country or region where it takes place. I've seen recent orchestral performances where the audience, overcome with joyous abandon, begins to clap along with the beat of the orchestral.
That might be okay for a celebration concert full of marches, folk tunes or patriotic songs, but it has no place in a traditional concert. The audience comes to hear the music, not Goober slapping his hands and stomping his feet.
I remember being in an open-air concert where the orchestra played the overture of La Gazza Ladra. Many already clapped at the long pause near the beginning of the piece. I just winced then laughed.
Clapping at a classical concert is like farting at an expensive restaurant-if you can do it silently, you can get away with it.
Such a well-made informative documentary! ❤ bravo!!
Shhhh!
I think the lone, rowdy guy is just ahead of his time. Eventually those staid, stoic audiences must give way to more lively expressions of enjoyment, in order for the artform to "feel alive" with the times.
i'm all for applause if it is warranted by the energy of the music. i'm also a regular attendee of all things contemporary music, in such that the audience applauds a lot. its a niche here in winnipeg. but its something we embrace as a collective community of all things contemporary.
And here all this time I thought it was only appropriate to wave my toga at baseball games. Who knew I could take that practice to a classical music venue as well👏 📣
😄
how informative! loved the animation, too.
I find that audiences in England tend to engage in competitive clapping, which is not a trend that I like.
Also, in a lot of works, there is a rest after the last note. That is part of the music, and you should not clap over it. The conductor will hold their arms in the air, a pianist will have their hands above the keys; while playing that rest. So wait for them to finish it before clapping.
Another fantastic video! Congratulations, always, to the team, the ideas and the top quality of everything! And the guide of references is so important! Thanks for that, too! 🥰
A couple of years ago, I was at a performance and after the first piece, there was a single person who started to clap. I cannot imagine how he must have felt when he or she realized what was going on. And maybe, we need a way for performers to tell us if they would appreciate it or not and then the audience can simply act on that preference.
Lovely animation. We love you Tiffany!
The future will have only heart-felt genuine applause (better if in the form of a spontaneous roar of approval) wherever it is rated in a work. I've seen this with kids at a Disney movie, where they spontaneously clap after the good numbers, and do not clap after the lame ones...
For me, the nature of the music itself is what determines the audience response. Rock & roll music tends to be rowdy and raucous, so if the audience response is the same, that is okay. But classical music is generally more sedate by comparison, so I would expect the audience response to be the same. In other words, hold applause until the end, and being less boisterous in reaction to the performance.
BTW, this was an excellent production. *polite applause here* 😉
Fascinating!!
Great video well done. I would welcome a change. But what level and how? Classical performance is not jazz or bluegrass but there are performances that lend themselves to expressions of audience appreciation. Why not after a movement that moves you? I recently attended a performance by Early Music Seattle where the performers amusingly encouraged expressions of appreciation or otherwise consistent with the period the baroque compositions were composed and performed. As you might guess, the audience was not prepared for that experience.
very interesting
NoIce
IMO - the practice of not clapping is what keeps people away from classical concerts lending more and more to the feeling it is very snobbish. How is a person who is not familiar with classical to enjoy it if they aren't aware of this convention - starts to clap - then embarrassed and then might never return. I've heard that the musicians themselves feel it breaks the concentration and mood of the musicians. I say rubbish to that - they are performing for the enjoyment of the audience. This practice of being quiet should end. You can see by Andre Rieu's success in packing whole stadiums full that people will attend if you make it more fun and not so stuffy.