As much as I would be pleased to join in with the interpretation of Prospero's reference to hands, I think it probably bears the more conventional meaning of helping hands rather than applause. And, as a violin teacher, the bowing and scraping I endure is certainly more of the horsehair on strings type than the euphemistic acknowledgement of an audience. No doubt, someone will come up with the definitive reason for our silly ritual, but I'm inclined to speculate that bowing to an audience evolved from the tradition of courtly courtesy, like signing a letter as "your humble servant" even though we all know that you're not. It could be the considered in the same vein as the manner in which JS Bach addressed his town councils or church consistories in his letters of indignant complaint, "Your Magnificences, Most Noble, Most Distinguished, Steadfast, Honored and Most Learned, also Most Wise, Most Highly Esteemed Gentlemen and Patroni!" Acknowledging the audience with deference by bowing is the same as saying "Your Humble Servant." RA > Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:39:12 +0000 > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > CC: [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Origins of bowing. > > So that's 'bowing'. So how does 'scraping' come into it, as in 'bowing > and scraping'. Both words also apply to what people do to members > of the violin family. > > Bill > From: David Van Edwards <[email protected]> > To: Mathias Roesel <[email protected]> > Cc: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, 18 February 2013, 12:41 > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Origins of bowing. > Dear Mthias, > Well clapping as a way of showing appreciation at the end of a play > is > thought to be referred to in the closing speech of Prospero in The > Tempest. In bold here, and presumably some sort of cheering is meant > by > the following couplet. > EPILOGUE > SPOKEN BY PROSPERO > Now my charms are all o'erthrown, > And what strength I have's mine own, > Which is most faint: now, 'tis true, > I must be here confined by you, > Or sent to Naples. Let me not, > Since I have my dukedom got > And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell > In this bare island by your spell; > But release me from my bands > With the help of your good hands: > Gentle breath of yours my sails > Must fill, or else my project fails, > Which was to please. Now I want > Spirits to enforce, art to enchant, > And my ending is despair, > Unless I be relieved by prayer, > Which pierces so that it assaults > Mercy itself and frees all faults. > As you from crimes would pardon'd be, > Let your indulgence set me free. > Best wishes, > David > At 11:27 +0100 18/2/13, Mathias Roesel wrote: > Bowing as an educated way of greeting someone else is already > mentioned in > the Bible. That dates back way beyond antiquity. Yet as for > musicians > receiving applause with a bow, that would imply that musicians were > acknowledged as kind of emancipated artists considered worthy to > receive > applause. > Just a guess, but I don't think John Dowland was used to bowing > when > he > played for his employers (landgrave Moritz, king Christian). > Emancipation of > artists came up during the 17th century, if I'm not mistaken. So > perhaps > lutenists like Jacques Gaultier or Franc,ois Dufaut in London would > receive > applause with a bow (mid-17th century). > Perhaps the question should rather be put this way: When became > applause for > artistic performances fashionable? > Mathias > To get on or off this list see list information at > [1]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > -- > The Smokehouse, > 6 Whitwell Road, > Norwich, NR1 4HB > England. > Telephone: + 44 (0)1603 629899 > Website: [2]http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/ > -- > > -- > > References > > 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > 2. http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/ >
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