New Year's Concert (Austria & Spain)
'Don't you think that's weird?', Spain almost shouted into Austria's ear.
'What's—' Austria quieted down and whispered: 'What's weird?'
Spain waited until everyone started to clap again. Then, he shouted: 'That! That clapping! Doesn't it destroy the music?'
'Don't people clap rhythmically during rock concerts, too?', Austria asked with feigned innocence, never ceasing to clap.
'Yes, but this is classical music! You can't even hear it properly any more!'
'It's become an Austrian custom!', Austria chirped cheerfully. 'Besides, do you have any idea how often I've heard the Radetzky March in my lifetime?'
Spain sighed and gave up. There were aspects about his fellow music-loving country he would never, never understand.
—
Notes:
The Radetzky March, Op. 228, was written by Austrian composer Johann Strauss, Sr (1804-1849) in 1848. It is usually the final piece of the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic, first performed in 1939. (Yes, the concert was a National Socialist 'invention'. -.-) During the Radetzky March, the audience traditionally claps along with the beat. The argument about this is probably as traditional as the clapping itself…