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Applause is a universal gesture of appreciation and approval, most commonly expressed through clapping. In live performances, it acts as both immediate feedback and encouragement for the artists, reinforcing the connection between the performer and the audience. This spontaneous act not only signifies recognition of talent and hard work but also helps build a communal atmosphere where shared enthusiasm amplifies the energy of the event. beyond the realm of live shows, applause has evolved into a symbolic expression in various contexts, including digital platforms where it mirrors the notion of 'likes' or positive endorsements. The psychological impact of applause is profound, as it serves as a form of positive reinforcement that can boost morale and confidence. Whether in a concert hall, a classroom, or online, the act of clapping encapsulates a universal language of celebration, making it a powerful tool for expressing collective joy and acknowledgment.
The age of the custom of applauding is uncertain, but it is widespread among human cultures. Varieties of applause typically serve as the means to show appreciation as an audience participant and fulfills the need to be included. The variety of its forms is limited only by the capacity for devising means of making a noise[1] (e.g., stomping of feet or rapping of fists or hands on a table). Within each culture, however, it is usually subject to conventions.
Theancient Romans had set rituals at public performances to express degrees of approval: snapping the finger and thumb, clapping with the flat or hollow palm, and waving the flap of thetoga. Upper-class spectators expressed approval by waving their togas, while lower-class spectators, who were not allowed to wear togas, just waved a piece of cloth, which may have been a precursor to the handkerchief. EmperorAurelian substituted the waving of napkins (orarium) that he had distributed to the Roman people for the toga flapping.[2] InRoman theatre, at the close of the play, the chief actor called out "Valete et plaudite!" (farewell and applaud), and the audience, guided by an unofficialchoregos, chanted their approvalantiphonally.[1] This was often organized and paid for.[3]
Similarly, aclaque (IPA: /klak/) (French for "slapping") was an organized body of professional applauders in French theatres and opera houses who were paid by the performer(s) to create the illusion of an increased level of approval by the audience. Alternatively, if they were not paid they mayboo and perhaps throw things at the stage.[4] By the 1830s, this had become commonplace.[citation needed] Heads of theaters and opera houses could get many professional clappers whenever they needed a boost.[clarification needed] The leader of the claque would decide when and where to begin the cheering. The claque consisted of people participating in a variety of roles: some would memorize the show to emphasize key scenes or moments, so-called "laughers" may feign laughter so as to incite the audience to laugh along, "criers" would fake tears,and some were there just to keep the mood up.[clarify] The emergence of claques made composers like Mahler, Schumann, and Mendelssohn begin to request in their scores that their works be performed with no break between movements as to avoid applause, becoming a catalyst to the well-known applauseetiquette upheld in many classical performance settings.[citation needed]
InChristianity, customs of the theatre were adopted by the churches.Eusebius[5] says thatPaul of Samosata encouraged thecongregation to indicate approval of 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. Applause in church eventually fell out of fashion, however. Partly due to the influence of the quasi-religious atmosphere of the performances ofRichard Wagner's operas at theBayreuth Festspielhaus, the reverential spirit that inspired this soon extended back to the theatre and the concert hall.[1]
Well-recognized politicians, actors, and musicians often receive applause as soon as they first appear on stage, even before any performance activity has transpired. This accolade is given to indicate admiration for their past achievements, and is not a response to the performance the audience is attending.
On some occasions, applause occurs in the middle of an event. ThePresident of the United States, in theState of the Union Address, is often interrupted by applause; tracking the number and duration of such interruptions has become a trend on various televisionnews channels. It is often customary forjazz performers to receive applause in the middle of a tune, after completing animprovisational solo. It is also typical to applaud at the end of a musical number in a musical theatre piece.
In most performances, if spectators really enjoy a performance, mainly in classical performances, they may also accompany by throwing flowers onstage. The volume of applause after a performance has also been shown to change the evaluation of the performance by the audience.
Extended applause at the conclusion of an event, usually but not always resulting in astanding ovation, implies approval above and beyond ordinary measure, and compels the performer toreturn in acknowledgement and at times proceed to anencore.
During classical music performances, it is customary to applaud at the end of each piece and at the beginning of the show. Usually the conductor will face the audience when it is an appropriate time to applaud. Standing ovations and encores are the norm at classical concerts, but not guaranteed.
Indiscriminate applause is widely considered a violation ofclassical musicconcert etiquette: Applause is discouraged between movements, reserved instead for the end of the entire work. Yelling, jumping, and other disruptive actions are discouraged as well, although cheering can be appropriate during a standing ovation.
There have been a number of attempts to further restrict applause in various circumstances. For example, court theaters inBerlin prohibit applause during the performance and before thecurtain call (although elsewhere inGermany, this is felt to be beyond public tastes).
By contrast,opera performances have traditionally been interrupted by applause at the end of anaria or certain other set pieces, and many opera scores reflect a break in the music at places where applause would typically occur. Regarding this practice as a distraction, Wagner headed it off by eliminating breaks in the score within each act; the arias in his operas do not end in a "full stop" but flow into the next section of the music, until the end of the act is reached. Even then, in light of the quasi-religious atmosphere of the first act ofParsifal, it is traditional for the audience not to applaud at all at the end of that act, but file out of their seats in silence.
Applause during church services is traditionally regarded as taboo, in light of the sanctity of the proceedings; focus is on the aspect of worship rather than the personality of the individual preaching or singing during the service. This rule may be relaxed to permit applause in honor of the newly married couple when they may turn to be greeted by the congregation following the exchange of vows. Applause may also be permitted at certain services in honor of a specific individual, such as abaptism or theordination of a newpriest orminister. In less traditional congregations, particularly in contemporary, evangelicalmegachurches, a more casual atmosphere exists and applause may be encountered as frequently as at any secular performance.
In theParliament of the United Kingdom, clapping is generally prohibited.[6][7] Instead, members of parliament and lords generally will shout "hear, hear!".[7] In theHouse of Commons of Canada, by contrast, clapping is customary and frequent.[8]
In various countries, airplane passengers often tend to applaud thelanding upon completion of a flight and when they have felt the plane's wheels touch down and have run a short but satisfactory course down therunway.[9] The purpose of this custom is unclear.
A golf clap is a form of quiet clapping, so-named because it is the preferred form of applause forgolfers; louder forms of applause are discouraged at golf tournaments so as not to disturb other golfers, who may be in the process of attempting a shot. Golf claps are sometimes used at other events toheckle or to show sarcasm. Similarly, in the game ofsnooker, a good cue shot, a difficultpot, a 'snooker' which is difficult from which to escape, will be rewarded by the opponent tapping their cue several times on the table edge.
Likewise,string musicians of an orchestra use bobbing theirbows in the air or gently tapping them on their instruments' strings as a substitute for applause. Wind section members will generally lightly stamp their feet or pat one hand on their leg to show approval to a conductor orsoloist, while percussionists often rapdrumsticks together. An even more subtle form of approval may be exhibited by a member of an orchestra during a formal rehearsal or performance when a colleague performs particularly well, usually a slight shuffle of the foot on the floor or hand on the knee. These subtle forms of applause may not be recognized as such by the audience. Outright applause by performers for other performers, although increasingly common, is traditionally regarded asgauche, self-congratulatory, and usurping of the audience's prerogative (and sole task in this respect) to provide accolades when they feel that the performance merits it.
In skateboarding culture, when a fellow skater performs and lands a maneuver exceptionally well the observers will bang their own boards against the ground to express approval or encouragement.
InDeaf culture, Deaf audiences will use a more visually expressive variant of clapping. Instead of clapping their palms together, they raise their hands straight up with outstretched fingers and twist their wrists.[10] However, in a situation more specific to hearing culture, the traditional clap is used.
Inpoetry performances, applause often takes the form offinger snapping in order to express approval to the performer without being loud and disruptive.
In some countries, applause may be used to indicate respect for a recently deceased person in some instances, such as at afuneral procession. A recent phenomenon in Britain and Israel, is the use of a minute's applause, which has come to replace the traditionalminute's silence. In the United Kingdom, it is especially atfootball matches,[11] and in Israel also atbasketball matches and other sports.[12][13] However, in most countries, applause for a deceased person is still widely frowned upon and not recommended because it may be misinterpreted as rudeness or joy.
InGerman-speaking countries, it is customary for university students to rap their knuckles on the desks after each lecture.[14] The same technique is used in German-speaking countries to express approval at meetings.
InJamaica people may bang lids and pot covers together during celebratory events such as a victory at theOlympic Games or theMiss World competitions.[15][16]
Another type of "slow handclap" is used as a dramatic device, often forming the conclusion ofdramatic turning points in films. After some dramatic speech, one audience member claps slowly, then another, and then a few more, until the trickle of clapping gives way to roaring applause, often ending in astanding ovation. This is also referred to as acrescendo applause, named for the increasing level of volume it produces.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Applause".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 222–223.
