In the early days of classical music the audience was rather rowdy—clapping, talking and even shouting during the performance. Then, at some point during the early 20th century, this changed, and the social norm became to applaud only at the end of the piece and not between movements within a work (in other words, clap at the end of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and stay silent during the breaks between movements 1, 2, 3 and 4. We want everyone to enjoy hearing all the music and sharing in that transcendental communal experience. So allow your feelings to build and build and if so moved explode with applause and bravos at the end of the piece.