Klarinet Archive - Posting 000881.txt from 1998/12

From: pollyg@-----. Gulakowski)
Subj: Re: [kl] Cynthia's Christmas Concert
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 22:23:04 -0500

Dan and Cynthia,
I couldn't agree more! I've been in your situation, Cynthia (but we had
a harmonica player accompany us) and as a jazz fan, appreciate the
ability to clap and cheer when an improvisation lays well. I have for
years been curbing the impulse to clap between movements - especially
show stoppers! - of "serious" music ;-) I think I'll give in next time.
Wishing the most joyous of seasons and happiest of holidays to those who
have just had, are in the midst of or are anticipating their respective
ones!
Paulette

On Wed, 23 Dec 1998 11:01:32 -1300 "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu"
<leeson@-----.edu> writes:
>I was very touched by Cynthia's description of her emotions at her
>Christmas Concert in the Netherlands. And her story has an important
>musical message.
>
>At almost every concert that we play, a presumption is made about
>the audience decorum, and when that presumption is violated we feel
>that something went wrong. For example, it is considered
>inappropriate
>to applaud or otherwise express audience appreciation between
>movements.
>There is an unspoken understanding that requests that "you save it
>until
>the end."
>
>Yet this kind of behavior is not what was expected from the audience
>at a concert of, say, 1780. When they liked something, often in the
>middle of a movement, they demonstrated their gratitude right then and
>there. Mozart writes that the audience insisted on the repetition of
>a cadenza even before the movement was finished.
>
>There is a great bond between the audience and the performers. We
>play
>better when we know that the audience is appreciative, and vice versa.
>Cynthia has described exactly that phenomenon and it is unfortunate
>that that kind of audience behavior is seen as abberant. It takes
>people
>who are intellectually challenged to demonstrate to the rest of the
>concert going world exactly how audiences should behave at a concert.
>
>Can you imaging a rock concert demanding that kind of audience
>behavior?
>"Just sit there and shut up until we are done. Then you can applaud."
>
>No wonder that concert goers are getting fewer while those who take
>advantage of positive audience reaction are getting more exposure.
>
>I once had an idiot of a conductor who would turn around and glare at
>the audience if they made any sign of positive recpeption prior to the
>very last note. Quelle schmuck!
>
>Bottom line: Cynthia has described an audience reaction that should be
>the norm, but is not, unfortunately.
>
>
>=======================================
>Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
>leeson@-----.edu
>=======================================
>
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>
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