To clap or not to clap

[PaulD]

I am quite fond of the Missa Solemnis and I often visit YouTube to listen to it. I particularly adore the last few minutes of the Agnus Dei. I also appreciate that in almost all videos, the public does not clap immediately after the last note. I suspect they are asked to refrain by the makers of the video. However, I do not know for sure if this is the reason or by respect for a religious work. Most of the time, in non sacred orchestral musical, there is always someone screaming bravo while the reverberation of the sound still resonate through the hall. In any case, I certainly appreciate a long silence after a piece of music. Do you know if this is mandatory by some orchestra?

[Megan]

HI Paul.. I have been to a performance of the Missa Solemnis years ago and numerous other concerts where it is quite correct to applaud after the whole work has been played and not in between movements, I prefer it that way. I love it when there is total silence after a movement, total focus and concentration in anticipation of the next.

[Peter]

It may be that different countries have different traditions, but in the UK at orchestral concerts applause is reserved for the end of a work, not after individual movements (though at the Proms this is different).

[Michael]

I was at a concert many years ago when one member of the audience clapped loudly at the end of a movement. The conductor (Bryden Thomson) turned towards the audience, visibly annoyed.

When the solitary clapping continued, Thomson shrugged, started to smile and gave a gesture to the audience to join in - which we all did with gusto.
Even the orchestra joined in.

[Chris]

It may be that different countries have different traditions, but in the UK at orchestral concerts applause is reserved for the end of a work, not after individual movements (though at the Proms this is different).

That is the convention in the USA as well.

[Albert Gans]

It will depend on the circumstances of the concert as well. I am sure most of you know the Abbado performance at the Lucerne Festival of Mahler's 9th and how he kept the hall in trance for more than a minute at the end of the last movement. Everybody there knew he was seriously ill with cancer.

[hal9000]

I am quite fond of the Missa Solemnis and I often visit YouTube to listen to it. I particularly adore the last few minutes of the Agnus Dei. I also appreciate that in almost all videos, the public does not clap immediately after the last note. I suspect they are asked to refrain by the makers of the video. However, I do not know for sure if this is the reason or by respect for a religious work. Most of the time, in non sacred orchestral musical, there is always someone screaming bravo while the reverberation of the sound still resonate through the hall. In any case, I certainly appreciate a long silence after a piece of music. Do you know if this is mandatory by some orchestra?

I was at this performance of the Missa Solemnis, and we weren't asked not to clap. We just all collectively agreed telepathically not to . It's strange because even after Sir JEG put hims arms down there's still no clap for like a second or two. I can't pin why there is rarely any immediate applause after the Missa Solemnis, perhaps you are right about the sacred specialness of the work. It also doesn't really invite an immediate rapture of applause like the energetic ending of the 9th symphony.

Incidentally, I watched this recently and check out that "merci" at the end, it's awful awareness.

[hal9000]

It will depend on the circumstances of the concert as well. I am sure most of you know the Abbado performance at the Lucerne Festival of Mahler's 9th and how he kept the hall in trance for more than a minute at the end of the last movement. Everybody there knew he was seriously ill with cancer.

As I recall, there is silence after the 3rd and 6th symphony also.