Time between Sonata Movements?

[phil13]

A recent question concerning this topic but with preludes and fugues inspired me to ask this:

When you have a sonata with disconnected movements, how long should you wait in between each movement? I noticed that if a performer waits too long, those audience members less educated in recital etiquette will begin clapping, ruining the effect of the sonata as a whole.

Anybody have an answer?

Phil

[zheer]

  10 seconds max.

[quantum]

I like to make the time relative to the connection of the two movments.   Some movements require a breather, while others do well to simply charge into the next movemnt. 

I find body language is a key ingredient in letting the audience know when the piece is finished.  Keeping your hands over the keys or keeping a concentrated look and firm posture at the piano makes it clearer that the piece is still not finished. 

[pianolist]

I agree entirely with Quantum. People clap orchestras too, if the conductor doesn't hold them back. The best I know at forcing the audience to remain silent is Sir Simon Rattle. His look of concentration is so fierce that no-one dares to break the spell.

The same is true at the end of a piece. The music doesn't actually stop until the tension drops. Obviously, you might have played an effervescent concert arrangement of a Strauss Waltz, in which case the music and the applause can flow into each other. But some pieces need many seconds of silence at the end. Watch a video of Rattle and learn!

[joca_hdj]

if there is no attaca mark ,than take your time.

[phil13]

One other question:

Does this apply to 2 or 3 little pieces of the same nature in a row? For example, say you were playing some Chopin Nocturnes or Preludes. Would you take the same amount of time?

Phil

[bradley]

It depends on the piece. For example at the end of the 1st mvt of the 2nd Scriabin sonata, I would not suggest taking that much time, while at the end of the 1st mvt of the Waldstein it would be inappropriate too go straight into it. A longer pause is required here, but the trick is too keep the tension and the atmosphere - you cannot look or seem relaxed, because that ruins the vibe. Another example I can think of not taking too much time is going into the last mvt of the Chopin B flat sonata - The 3rd mvt almost flows into the 4th for me...

[jonslaughter]

Wouldn't the better solution just to tell the audience not to clap until its fully over and explain to them what that means? i.e., say you will stand up or somethign when its finally over.

This would educate the listeners and eventually everyone will know it and it won't have to be said. Its very annoying to me when people start to clap for no reason... I think maybe they are clapping because they want it to be over

[pianolist]

This is slightly off the topic, but it's a good story!

The conductor, Tadaki Otaka, comes from a family of musicians, and he relates how his father played an important part in introducing classical orchestral music to Japan. I think the father championed Bruckner and Mahler in that country.

Apparently, Mr Otaka senior and his orchestra were performing a large symphony in a town that was not used to such music, and at the end of the piece, he and the orchestra finally stopped. Absolute silence. He put his baton down, and motioned to the orchestra, and together they all bowed solemnly to the audience.

You've guessed it, the audience all got to their feet, and solemnly bowed back! I rather like that idea - there is a real feeling of innocence, and courteous appreciation about it. I expect he explained about applause before they played there again!