Applause....I know, I know..........

[MrGongGong]

No, it hasn't.

OOOOOO yes it has

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah yes. I now see my Dover reproduction of the 1906 Universal score has it on the "Instrumentation" page, just after the high gallery tuned bells and boys' choir.

Snap!

[Serial_Apologist]

OOOOOO yes it has

The point I was trying to make, by way of delving deeper defining issues around receptivity and response-ability, was that in addressing these issues as contextual, without defining the contextual, the ring dropped into the fountain can only gbe found by searching the estuary, to coin a Cantonaism - because it is only at moments which signal change in the grander scheme of human activities that some clarity about what the context is, and has been, becomes apparent.

I'm trying my best to avoid the P word.

[MrGongGong]

The point I was trying to make, by way of delving deeper defining issues around receptivity and response-ability, was that in addressing these issues as contextual, without defining the contextual, the ring dropped into the fountain can only gbe found by searching the estuary, to coin a Cantonaism - because it is only at moments which signal change in the grander scheme of human activities that some clarity about what the context is, and has been, becomes apparent.

I'm trying my best to avoid the P word.

I guess there is a fundamental difference in what folks believe the context to be.

My irritation with this partly stems from the role I often have in encouraging people (and NOT just youngsters) to go and hear music they wouldn't normally hear. If folks believe (like they believe that a seat at the ROH costs at least £100) that going to hear a symphony at the Proms is like going to an auction, sneezing and accidentally buying something then they won't bother to go. I'm frequently trying to encourage folks to go and hear things, the Proms are fundamentally about this NOT the whole "heave ho, Rule Britannia" b*llocks.

[Nick Armstrong]

As for Stephen Hough - and Gongers and his symphony - stop press: performers and composers like audience adulation

I'm a bit worried that if the firing squad is in audible range of the RAH it might disturb the concert.

I find re-tuning more disturbing (an A after the close of a Movement in Eb really sets my teeth on edge, but I understand that this is often necessary)

Me too! I've never dared admit this before!


In terms of composers' approaches to the issue, don't I recall that Mendelssohn was among the first to do something about inter-movement applause by making each movement of his violin concerto follow attacca with a linking note in the orchestra...? (Apologies if someone has mentioned this before)

[Beef Oven!]

composer

I guess there is a fundamental difference in what folks believe the context to be.

My irritation with this partly stems from the role I often have in encouraging people (and NOT just youngsters) to go and hear music they wouldn't normally hear. If folks believe (like they believe that a seat at the ROH costs at least £100) that going to hear a symphony at the Proms is like going to an auction, sneezing and accidentally buying something then they won't bother to go. I'm frequently trying to encourage folks to go and hear things, the Proms are fundamentally about this NOT the whole "heave ho, Rule Britannia" b*llocks.

People are really put off of going to classical concerts. I've dragged quite a few of my mates with me down the years and so often I've been asked what to wear! It's ok if you're a bit of a snob, and the rest of your mates are, but what if the pool that your friends are drawn from doesn't have any snooty types? Well this is where the Proms really helps. A more relaxed protocol and a wider field of music would be such a boon. I'm saddened that people just don't seem to get it.

[french frank]

Of which one might be: but what about if people suddenly started applauding in the middle of a movement, say, after a solo cadenza? Would this become acceptable on the same grounds as saying that clapping between movements has become once more acceptable? To which the answer comes: well, the former doesn't happen, so what is the point in raising hypothetics?

Nice post, S_A

I don't think it's yet been pointed out that raising the hands and clapping palms together to indicate approbation is itself a 'convention'. I imagine that if after a magnificent performance of a Mahler symphony there were utter silence for several minutes before the conventional clapping began, that too would give satisfaction to performers as audience approval.

Debussy is supposed to have said (don't know if he did): 'Music is the space between the notes (he must have been glad the spaces were too short to give people time to clap). In design, the white surrounding space IS content, it adds to visual impact. That's how I would explain the importance to me of the silence between movements.

[Sir Velo]

Of which one might be: but what about if people suddenly started applauding in the middle of a movement, say, after a solo cadenza? Would this become acceptable on the same grounds as saying that clapping between movements has become once more acceptable? To which the answer comes: well, the former doesn't happen, so what is the point in raising hypothetics?

Maybe not just hypothetical; after all, a guitar solo is cheered to the echo in a rock concert; so why not in a classical concerto? Likewise, an aria will be applauded (or derided) during an opera.

[teamsaint]

At most of the many rock concerts that I have been to, long guitar solos would get roundly booed...

That would be on grounds of taste, not as a result of convention though .

[Beef Oven!]

At most of the many rock concerts that I have been to, long guitar solos would get roundly booed...

That would be on grounds of taste, not as a result of convention though .

What about the ones before those ones, if you get my drift?

[Hitch]

Perhaps one could sit with thumbs aloft?

[teamsaint]

What about the ones before those ones, if you get my drift?

Moderation in all things, ( especially guitar solos)as Caliban is fond of saying.

[Stanfordian]

Perhaps one could sit with thumbs aloft?

Hiya Hitch,

Well done! That's the answer! Why didn't anyone else think of it.

[Bryn]

Moderation in all things, ( especially guitar solos)as Caliban is fond of saying.

Hmm, you've got me hankering after spinning:



and

[Beef Oven!]

Me too!