Applause

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For the 1970 Broadway musical, see Applause (musical).

Applause (Latin applaudere, to strike upon, clap) is primarily the expression of approval by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise; generally any expression of approval. Audiences are usually expected to applaud after a performance, such as a musical concert, speech, or play.

The custom of applauding may be as old and as widespread as humanity, and the variety of its forms is limited only by the capacity for devising means of making a noise. Within each culture, however, it is usually subject to conventions. The Romans had a set ritual of applause for public performances, expressing degrees of approval: snapping the finger and thumb, clapping with the flat or hollow palm, waving the flap of the toga, for which last the emperor Aurelian substituted a handkerchief (orarium), distributed to all Roman citizens (see Stole). In the theatre, at the close of the play, the chief actor called out "Valete et plaudite!", and the audience, guided by an unofficial choregus, chaunted their applause antiphonally. This was often organized and paid for. ^[1]

When Christianity became widespread the customs of the theatre were transferred to the churches. Eusebius ^[2] says that Paul of Samosata encouraged the congregation to applaud his preaching by waving linen cloths (οθοναις), and in the 4th and 5th centuries applause of the rhetoric of popular preachers had become an established custom.

Although applause may provide a healthy stimulus, its abuse has led to attempts at abolishing or restricting it even in theatres. The use of a claque, people hired by performers to applaud them, has been discredited, and indiscriminate applause has been considered a violation of concert etiquette. The reverential spirit which abolished applause in church has extended to the theatre and the concert hall, largely under the influence of the quasi-religious atmosphere of the Wagner performances at Baireuth. In court theatres in Berlin applause during the performance and "calling before the curtain" have been officially forbidden, but even in Germany this is felt to be beyond public tastes.

In most western countries, audience members clap their hands at random to produce a constant noise; however, it tends to synchronize naturally to a weak degree. As a form of mass nonverbal communication, it is a simple indicator of the average relative opinion of the entire group; the louder and longer the noise, the stronger the sign of approval.

Famous performers, as well as celebrities in other fields such as politics, may also receive applause when they first appear on stage, before they deliver a speech or their first speaking part. This accolade given in response to his or her past achievements and is not a reflection of the performance the audience is attending.

On some occasions, applause can also occur in the middle of an event. The President of the United States, in his State of the Union address, is often interrupted by applause; in fact, tracking the number of such interruptions has become a trend for various television news channels. It is often customary for jazz performers to receive applause in the middle of a tune, after completing an improvisational solo section. Applause during a symphony is now regarded as a breach of concert etiquette, but not always in opera.

[edit] Slow handclap

Generally, an audience will clap rhythmically in unison, about two claps per second, to indicate approval. When this rate is slowed down considerably and becomes synchronised throughout the audience participants, in many cultures this is considered an expression of mocking dislike or disapproval of the performer, and is termed a slow handclap. The person being slowly clapped at may interpret the clap as an insult and a sign to leave the stage. During musical events, however, it is common for an audience to clap in the rhythm of the song, to cheer the artists present on stage.

A notable occurrence of a slow handclap took place during a speech made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair on 7 June 2000, when he was heckled and slow-handclapped by members of the Women's Institute. [1] (video)