Social Etiquette Vs Social Grace
I went to a free SSO Pre-tour Concert yesterday, thanks to a Church friend who is the Music HOD of her secondary school. We were seated at the Choir Stalls (right behind the stage). It was quite exciting. Call me mountain tortoise, but I've never watched a performance in the Esplanade Concert Hall from this angle. I felt like I was one of the performers cos we were facing the audience and the spotlights were extended to our section too. The plus point, well for me, was that I get to see quite a close-up (approx 15m away) of Maestro Lan Shui in action. And I realised that Conductors can be quite self-absorbed...so I'm not alone. Haha! Anyway, it was quite an eye-opener.
So, coming back to the subject matter, the orchestra played 2 pieces in total. The first was 35mins while the other was 45mins. Unbelievable right? But each piece consists of a few movements. In terms of concert etiquette, well, you don't need to applause until the end of the whole piece. Even though the Conductor may get on to the next movement with a long pause in between for whatever reason, or you feel so appreciative and exhilarated by the movement you just heard, you don't clap. You are not expected to. And the performers won't get offended with the silence, cause it's expected and appropriate response.
Having said that, not everybody who comes to such a concert has such prior knowledge. And speaking for myself, if not for what I do in my job, I would probably not have watched any such performances or known of such "appropriate behaviour".
So I was seated next to this secondary school student during the concert. She expressed her disgust with the audience applauding in between the movements (she obviously has been educated in this aspect) covering her face and made this remark, "sign...typical Singaporean audience, no concept of concert etiquette..."
I feel that as much as you know about etiquette (of any kind be it concert or even dining), it is just a norm - social norm for that matter. Norms imply an in-group syndrome, usually resulting in excluding people who don't practice them accordingly - discrimination in short.
It is definitely an exhibit of respect for one to be able to behave "appropriately", but it is not a criminal offence or a show of disrespect if such norms are not adhered to due to perhaps ignorance, or if by complying would cause one to feel a compromise in their values or beliefs. If we respect one another, perhaps it would be more important to be gracious and forgiving for such "misbehaviour". If it's that important and, in this case, crucial to the integrity of the music piece for it not to be interrupted by applause, then perhaps the audience could be educated before the piece is being played. Assuming that it "would be", just because it "should be", and then frowning upon it not happening the way it's assumed is simply presumptous.
I certainly didn't see the student showing disgust against the shh-shings, the talking, and the clearing of throats by the rest seated in the Choir Stalls. I think, those are more disrespectful to the performers and fellow patrons than the untimely, but appreciative applauding.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
"Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
James 2:13
"For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
So, coming back to the subject matter, the orchestra played 2 pieces in total. The first was 35mins while the other was 45mins. Unbelievable right? But each piece consists of a few movements. In terms of concert etiquette, well, you don't need to applause until the end of the whole piece. Even though the Conductor may get on to the next movement with a long pause in between for whatever reason, or you feel so appreciative and exhilarated by the movement you just heard, you don't clap. You are not expected to. And the performers won't get offended with the silence, cause it's expected and appropriate response.
Having said that, not everybody who comes to such a concert has such prior knowledge. And speaking for myself, if not for what I do in my job, I would probably not have watched any such performances or known of such "appropriate behaviour".
So I was seated next to this secondary school student during the concert. She expressed her disgust with the audience applauding in between the movements (she obviously has been educated in this aspect) covering her face and made this remark, "sign...typical Singaporean audience, no concept of concert etiquette..."
I feel that as much as you know about etiquette (of any kind be it concert or even dining), it is just a norm - social norm for that matter. Norms imply an in-group syndrome, usually resulting in excluding people who don't practice them accordingly - discrimination in short.
It is definitely an exhibit of respect for one to be able to behave "appropriately", but it is not a criminal offence or a show of disrespect if such norms are not adhered to due to perhaps ignorance, or if by complying would cause one to feel a compromise in their values or beliefs. If we respect one another, perhaps it would be more important to be gracious and forgiving for such "misbehaviour". If it's that important and, in this case, crucial to the integrity of the music piece for it not to be interrupted by applause, then perhaps the audience could be educated before the piece is being played. Assuming that it "would be", just because it "should be", and then frowning upon it not happening the way it's assumed is simply presumptous.
I certainly didn't see the student showing disgust against the shh-shings, the talking, and the clearing of throats by the rest seated in the Choir Stalls. I think, those are more disrespectful to the performers and fellow patrons than the untimely, but appreciative applauding.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
"Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
James 2:13
"For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
