Klarinet Archive - Posting 000237.txt from 1999/07

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] APPLAUSE
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 11:40:10 -0400

On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, Bob Yoon wrote:

> With both Parsifal and Mahler's 9th Symphony, there is a respected
> tradition of not applauding since these were their last completed
> works, respectively. In this light, one can understand why applause
> would upset others.

I played Parsifal at least once, and was present in performances of it
several times, and the audience always applauded. I would have been
surprised if they had not. I've never heard of such a tradition. So, I
guess the question would be, if one fails to honor a tradition that one
has never heard of, does one still commit a social faux-pas?

Possibile several list members may have seen a program on PBS last night
about Parsifal. One of the important points made was that, contrary to
popular belief, Parsifal has nothing to do with Christianity, or any other
known religion. The underlying themes have to do with Wagner's views on
the supposed "Aryan purity" of the Germanic peoples. So, I conclude that
any aversion to applause at performances of the work has no connection to
any similar reluctance to applaud at religious ceremonies, a tradition
which in my view is unfortunately going the way of the steam locomotive
and the LP recording.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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