I have been to two very different concerts recently that made me think. The first was Chloe's A level recital (went well, very proud parent), and the other was a reunion Jazz gig with John Dankworth and some of his old band mates that played in the Newport Jazz festival in 1959 (amazing!).
The contrast in the two situations was interesting.
At Chloe's recital it was a classical situation where some less informed audience members were clearly nervous about showing ignorance and clapping between movements , despite the fact that they might have been burning to (proud parent).
The Jazz gig was just the opposite, the audience applauded enthusiastically after every solo (whether it was good or not), laughed with uproar at every joke (every joke!), and gave a standing ovation at the end (it was pretty special).
Why shouldn't we show approval and appreciation at any point in a great work, or after an amazing cadenza?. By the time the generally polite applause comes at the end, the "wowwy" bits have perhaps been forgotten.
Is music elitist? Is the classical audience worried that they're clapping in the wrong place, and the jazz audience worried that they're not clapping in the right place?.
One day these musical traditions will be upturned, but who is going to be the first brave person to clap after the slow movement? (NOT ME!!)
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