Music appreciation

Post 124 Audience clapping

Audience clapping is a sign of appreciation and encouragement for speakers, musicians, dancers, stage performers, sportsmen, athletes, or field games players. However I wish to comment on audience clapping at concerts given by musicians like pianists, violinists, and also by orchestras.

When a pianist is playing a concerto and in between movements, some audience may think it has ended and starts to clap as if they are attending a pop concert. This is lacking in etiquette and perhaps just ignorance on the part of first time goers to such concert. Their clapping at the wrong time reflects their shallow knowledge in music appreciation. Obviously that would have spoilt the enjoyment of educated audience who know not to clap during a pause between movements.

Music appreciation on classical pieces involves the understanding of the composers, their background and style of plays. Classical symphonies of Mozart, Beethoven and other great composers generally have four movements. The clapping of hands in between movements is therefore uncalled for.

Music is appreciated for the joy it brings to us.

27 December 2011