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Clapping at the end of a performance is a traditional way of expressing praise, with sustained clapping considered eulogy. The word “applause” comes from the Latin word applaudere, meaning to strike or clap. Certain rules govern applause, with the audience waiting until the performance is over to clap. Sometimes, the audience claps in anticipation, and a claque may be hired to clap during a performance or to point to the audience when it is appropriate to clap.
The audience claps or claps at the conclusion of a performance to express praise. While clapping has become conventional at the end of all performances, particularly loud or sustained clapping is considered eulogy. The history of using sound to express appreciation goes back centuries, with different cultures having prevailing traditions around applause.
The root of the word “applause” is applaudere, a Latin word meaning to strike or clap. In Roman times, a slight expression of pleasure could be limited to snapping the fingers or tapping the hand. An enthusiastic response to a performance would involve full-blown clapping, repeatedly clapping the palms to generate a loud noise. In general, the clapping is very rapid and unrhythmic, except in cases where the audience may clap to beat time with a musical performer, as is the case at some folk concerts.
Certain rules govern applause at performances. By convention, the audience should wait to applaud until the performance is over. During a stage performance, this will be indicated by the curtain call – a procedure whereby the actors line up on stage and take their bows. In a concert or musical performance, the ending may not be entirely clear. As a general rule, wait until the house lights start going up to applaud, or until the conductor lays down his baton and bows. The audience should not clap during or between movements or acts, as this may disturb the performers.
Sometimes, the audience claps in anticipation. Famous conductors are usually applauded as they take the stage, and speakers and politicians are often applauded before they begin. Clapping during a speech also occurs, to express agreement or praise for an argument or statement. However, sometimes the audience will be asked to refrain from clapping until the conclusion of a speech or debate so that the event does not drag on.
A claque, incidentally, is a group of people hired to clap during a performance. Originally, claques were hired by artists concerned about a lukewarm reception. In modern performances, a claque is sometimes used to point to the audience, so they know when it is appropriate to clap. Since many concert audiences are much less cultured than they used to be, the problem of applause erupting in the middle of a large concert movement is much larger, leading to the need for cues that suggest when applause is permissible.
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