Klarinet Archive - Posting 000761.txt from 1999/11

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Applause as appropriate
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 01:25:13 -0500

From: "John P. Varineau" <jvarineau@-----.com>

> Could you perhaps be referring to this little gem (actually about
> Beethoven 7)?

Possibly - the mozart.composers.net site is down this morning; I couldn't
double check.

> Sad to say, Mark, that we have not been able to replicate the audiences
> of the 18th and early 19th century here in Grand Rapids. And as a
> modern orchesra, we don't even do very much with performance practice --
> yet!

John,
I'm actually not interested in replicating an 18th/19th century audience.
I'm more interested in starting a small movement in 20th century
orchestras/chamber orchestras. There's probably no way that I could get the
background necessary to respond "correctly" in regards to a period
audience - I've been exposed already to music they would have found
shocking, and I'm not shocked anymore :^)

> But we are working very hard at (and succeeding) developing new
> audiences and at de-mystifying the concert experience. It turns out that
> a lot of people who would enjoy classical music if they heard it are
> intimidated by the concert hall and the unwritten sacrosanct (and often
> absurd) rules.

That's what I'm looking for - but I'm not sure that keeping the label
"classical music" is helping you. People may be scared of that label.

> And your idea of having a few shills to actually get this going sounds
> very intriguing. What really needs to happen is to get audiences so
> engrossed in what is happening musically that they must explode with
> applause. But mustn't do that, it might drown out the sound of a ringing
> cell-phone!

A few rules are _always_ good. If you had an engrossed audience, I have this
feeling that you'd hear cheers as the ushers escorted the person with the
beeper or cell phone out of the hall!

I can't see this happening in the established "big" orchestras for some
time, but the regionals or chamber groups might have the flexibility to give
it a try. My son'll be having a public recital in the April timeframe - I'm
going to see if I can convince him that applause (if warranted) between or
during the movements would be a "good thing".

Cheers,
Mark C.

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