Proms 2018

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Which precisely what I find the attitude of those criticising the paying audience members who take it upon themselves to applause between the movements of a multi-movement work.

So money is the issue? Well, in that case, the paying audience members who don't like applause between movements should be entitled to a refund.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don’t think that is the point (even if you don’t mean it seriously). I agree with ts; it is very disappointing that, of all people, someone who seems to be very much aware of and care about extra-musical issues in classical music seems to have jumped on the bandwagon and blaming the ‘traditional’ classical music concert goers for the declining (if it is. Do we really know?) of the audience of classical music. It’s far too simplistic and Chi-Chi Nwanoku must know it is.

When the exposure to classical music is effectively denied to young people from a very early age, one can hardly blame those who would dearly love to give them this priceless opportunity.

[Bryn]

So money is the issue? Well, in that case, the paying audience members who don't like applause between movements should be entitled to a refund.

No, they should just rein in their intolerance, live and let live.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

No, they should just rein in their intolerance, live and let live.

But presumably this doesn't apply to the clappers?

[MrGongGong]

FFS

It's THE PROMS
Lot's of people go
they stand up
they listen to music that they might know
or they might not know
Some of them are moved to clap their hands together at times when they hear something they like
others wait until then end

That's the nature of THIS event
Feldman in St Pauls Hall in the middle of the night blah blah blah blah etc etc etc etc etc etc

[ahinton]

So money is the issue? Well, in that case, the paying audience members who don't like applause between movements should be entitled to a refund.

But how could this be? Do you suppose that audience members' attitudes to applause, when to do it and when not to do it is influenced in any way by whether or not, or how much, they've paid to attend the performance? If so, on what grounds and with what evidence?

By the way, has anyone yet mentioned the rôle (if any) for clapometers in all of this?...

[Barbirollians]

As most of the replies are simply repeating what Forumistas have said every year on this matter, I'll put in my annual comment.

I prefer not to have the gaps between movements interrupted by applause - particularly (for some reason) when I'm listening via speakers (radio, or recordings). I don't mind at concerts I'm attending, although I don't join in (jut as I wouldn't join in any booing between Movements). The reason I prefer to have silence between Movements is because I like to hear the key relationships between the end of one Movement and the start of the next. BUT, in Live concerts, there are worse things that disrupt this continuity than clapping - most obviously the performers tuning up (the sound of the Oboe's A after the last Eb major chords of the First Movement of the Eroica, for example, is particularly disruptive). This, of course, is unavoidable and part of the Live/Live Broadcast experience, and part of what I've learnt to tolerate. With such disruptions, I find the addition of a smattering of applause a comparatively minor irritation.

Alpie's "do you do this at home?" is a new argument in this annual discussion - but not, I think, one that holds up in my case: I not infrequently sing along in vocal works at home on my own, mutter little comments to myself ("Ooh - nice phrasing, Herbie" sort-of thing) and listen in my pyjamas - in none of which behaviour, it will be a relief to hear, do I indulge at a concert.

I certainly feel like joining in sometimes after playing a live recording - such as the Boult Proms Elgar 1 or more recently playing the Bruno Walter /VPO Mahler 4 . Though of course never between movements

[french frank]

But presumably this doesn't apply to the clappers?

Of course not. That was my point.

If someone were to come up with a compromise of some sort - rather than handing the reward to the side they favour - that would be clever.

[ahinton]

Of course not. That was my point.

If someone were to come up with a compromise of some sort - rather than handing the reward to the side they favour - that would be clever.

Didn't I just do that I suggesting clapping with one hand only before the end of a piece?

[Barbirollians]

I blame the heat for this thread.

[french frank]

Didn't I just do that I suggesting clapping with one hand only before the end of a piece?

I fear the sound of one hand clapping would favour the non clappers over the clappers so would not be acceptable.

[MickyD]

I blame the heat for this thread.

I feel quite guilty, being the one who started it in all innocence - I never thought it would provoke so much!

[MrGongGong]

[Lat-Literal]

Would it be helpful if there were a clapping sound app?

At least then people wouldn't be moving their arms about.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I feel quite guilty, being the one who started it in all innocence - I never thought it would provoke so much!

It's OK. It would have happened anyway. One of the pro-clapping fraternity tried to start it after the First Night concert.