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 <da...@vanedwards.co.uk>
   To: Mathias Roesel <mathias.roe...@t-online.de>
   Cc: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
   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
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