To clap, or not to clap

[Dorsetmike]

Applause, no during or after a service, but OK for a recital/concert.

[Fretless]

The congregation at my church will applaud the choir if it is a special event. For example, we did the Bruckner Te Deum and it took the place of the sermon for that day--I played in the orchestra (got to do the violin solo ).

[jhnbrbr]

A long time ago I attended a church performance of "Olivet to Calvary" and at the end there was total silence, which always makes me feel embarrassed on behalf of the performers, so I raised my hands and almost started clapping single-handedly (as I've sometimes done at organ recitals), but lost my nerve at the last minute and put them down again. Later I overheard the conductor talking to someone: "Thank God no-one applauded this time. The last time we performed this work some idiot clapped at the end!"

EDIT: When I said clapping "single-handedly" I meant on my own, of course, not using one hand only!!

[Contratrombone64]

Nothing wrong with "the clap" ...

[Montefalco]

One time I saw a performance of a flute concerto by Mozart where the audience started clapping after a flute solo, halfway through a movement. I also went to a concert where heard a string duo by Ravel played, and through about half the first movement there was a baby crying. I felt sorry for the mother of the baby, because she had to leave the concert.

[teddy]

I would agree that claping at the end of the performance is far more appropriate. The practice of claping at the start of a performance seems to have spread over here from America. I find it distracting and for me it can spoil the intro. During a jazz performance it can be ok to applaud, stamp your feet or even call out to acknowledge a particularly fine solo or break, but then the atmosphere is a little different.
teddy

[marval]

I agree teddy, at Classical concerts people should wait until the end to applaud.

I went to a Jazz concert two weeks ago, and the audience were encouraged to applaud the soloists. It seemed it was what was expected.


Margaret

[teddy]

Was this in England or the colonies margaret

teddy

[marval]

This was in England, it was a great concert.


Margaret

[Contratrombone64]

"the colonies?" I think NOT, we are trying hard to get rid of the Monarchy from the Australian constitution, trouble is our former prime minister's model was not acceptable to the populous. I'm still waiting for a chance to bring them to the guillotine, the French had the right idea.

[Montefalco]

"the colonies?" I think NOT, we are trying hard to get rid of the Monarchy from the Australian constitution, trouble is our former prime minister's model was not acceptable to the populous. I'm still waiting for a chance to bring them to the guillotine, the French had the right idea.

*cheers*