The last piece of evidence I would point to is that strict etiquette is a newer phenomenon. Do not let this put you off attending a classical concert at the Romanian Athenaeum! to performed music was therefore analogous to proper etiquette for being I tried to provide a factual answer and wait for clarification if they wanted to continue the conversation. main event. However, watching a classical concert can be a very enjoyable and memorable experience if you keep these simple tips in mind: What you wear depends on the type of concert you are going to. Your outfit should match the type of concert youre going to. Leaving between musical numbers is prohibited. Shouting is generally acceptable only during applause. The History of Concert Etiquette, Abridged. With the decline of smokers, the restrictions placed on carrying lighters during air travel, and the increase of cell phones in the early 21st century, cell phones (specifically the camera flash) are often used in place of lighters, and as a way to take personal pictures and videos. Below is a guideline to ensure that your presence does not disrupt but enhance the enjoyment of the music. Sure, at a classical concert, the music is different [8] The premiere of Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring in 1913 prompted catcalls and whistles from the crowd that degenerated into fistfights in the aisles and police intervention. Today it is usually considered something of a faux pas (bad form), though a minor and well-meaning one. Are you coming to a film in concert? If youre still in doubt, you can always wait until the crowd begins to applaud. ), dont stretch, dont chew a gum, dont look for anything in your purse, dont play with any zippers, dont do make-up (Ive seen that!). The French word encore (again) may be shouted as a request for more, although in France itself bis (twice) is the more usual expression. The Curse of the Ninth: Fact or Fiction? Until the conductors hands are lowered audiences normally refrain from making a sound. Just check the letters section of any culture publication at every BBC Proms season for your evidence, full of rage that these incidents arent banned outright. Avoid unnecessary fidgeting, coughing, and anything else that makes noise. On the other hand, there are a lot The ASO audience clapped at the right time, but there was a rather pregnant pause at the end of the night at which point the conductor, Austin Symphony Music Director Peter Bay, quickly turned to the audience and quipped, Thats it!. When you arrive late and have to push through people to get to your seat, you're disturbing someone else's enjoyment of the show. courts, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries. The ambiance at a classical concert is very different than, let's say, a rock concert. To be fair, Frieds Oct. 22 recital was different than most. Please silence your cell phones, alarms, and other audible electronic devices before the concert begins. Just not all the time or while the musicians are playing. So, they may purchase a programme to understand the subtleties of the music. At classical music concerts, the cardinal principle is to let others listen to the music undisturbed. To seasoned classical music fans, a disruptive audience member (even unintentionally!) Concertgoers try to arrive and take seats before the music begins; late arrivals wait until a break between pieces allows seating by an usher. by the younger generationis low because the classical music experience Concert Etiquette Flow Chart. wait until the conductor gives a clear sign that the piece is over (usually by lowering arms and the baton or just turning around to the audience). [6] Wagner discouraged what he considered distracting noises from his audience at Bayreuth in 1882. [citation needed], With the arrival of recording technology in the twentieth century, applause between the movements of a symphony or suite came to be regarded as a distraction from the momentum and unity of a work. popularized the notion that making noise at a concert was unacceptable. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. At heavy metal concerts in particular, dark clothing and items such as chains, studded belts and bracelets, and various leather garments are common (this can vary greatly between different styles of metal). Clap at this point in the music. International visitors should type 99999 as their zip code. Anytime, anywhere. It can get confusing. But pieces of classical music sometimes have multiple parts, with silence between. The most important thing is not to distract the audience and the performers. Late arrivals wait until a break between pieces allows seating by an usher. wanted or want their music to be enjoyed in a different way than the A classical piece such as a symphony, concerto or string quartet typically consists of multiple movements. We love it when our audience feels comfortable in the concert hall, but there are some things you should keep in mind in order to respect your fellow concert goers: Eating, talking, and other careless noises are distracting to the musicians and to the audience. Even in venues that provide seating, generally the audience will stand for the band's performance. Concert Etiquette - Western Classical Music - LiquiSearch Requirements for attire are generally very lax. Im the last person to advocate stuffiness in the concert hall. of current composers and musicians interested in audience participation I consider the pause in between movements to be part of the music and performance so I try not to distract that. Topics range from the history of the composer or piece of music, to interesting anecdotes from the current or past performances of the pieces being played, and even information about the world-class guest soloist. Liturgical music was the only rehearsed music most people heard in Western Sometimes it is the purpose of the conductor to maintain a fairly long silence after the last notes of a piece; this is an especially likely choice for pieces with quiet endings. Hats are removed, as they block others view of the stage. concert etiquette become what it is? One reason is that classical music is usually performed in a special concert hall. But this received backlash from contemporaries such as Mahler and Mendelssohn, who specified that applause should not be attempted between movements but instead saved for the end. Learn how your comment data is processed. surroundings seems natural in a world of recorded music. They will let you know when the piece is over, so wait until they put their arms down and turn to face the audience. If there is in fact something wrong with classical music, consider that it has everything to do with how we talk about it and nothing to do with anything else. Frieds concert was more a lecture-recital, presented on the heels of a master class with the artist the previous day. BRAVO! Performing Arts Series Announces Performances for 2022-2023 He previously worked for Houston Public Radio where, in addition to hosting a daily music program, he was a regular contributor to the station's daily arts magazine, The Front Row. How to behave at your first classical music concert, and why it's so Sometimes theres a long silence between the end of the music and the start of the applause. It really does change how you perceive music! And there was a gigantic question that resonated in that moment: Is it OK to clap now? Applause Etiquette: Knowing when to applaud can be tricky, especially for first-time concertgoers. Trust usthere are many more patrons in the hall with you that feel the same way. column, we look into a crucial pop-culture question youve been burning to know the answer to and settle it, once and for all. Moreover, relaxed concerts, where audience members can move around the concert hall during the performance and applaud in any place they see fit, do exist and have proven popular with ensembles such as the Aurora Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony but a newcomer could still depart none the wiser about the protocol. A concert experience should be fun and laid-back. The nineteenth century brought a shift in venue from aristocratic gatherings to public concerts along with works featuring an unprecedentedly wide dynamic range. have expected a reverently silent Water Music premiere. Keep the Hat Size to a Minimum. Comments that take a negative or confrontational tone are subject to email and name verification before being approved. Its not very considerate, it disturbs other viewers and musicians. { "7.01:_Introduction-_Musical_Ensembles_Attending_Concerts" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.