"The Low Country Clap" (also known as "The Charleston Clap" & "The Gullah Clap") information & videos

John Melville Bishop, Dec 13, 2009

Georgia Sea Island Singers from the DVD- The Films of Bess Lomax Hawes- available from http://www.media-generation.com

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the low country clap (also known as "the Charleston Clap" and "the Gullah clap") that began as accompaniment to  Gullah Geechee singing. This clapping pattern is from the Gullah Geechee culture of Charleston, South Carolina (USA).

Five showcase YouTube videos  of  low country singing and clapping are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, religious, aesthetic, and educational purposes.
 
All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the producers and publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-double-clap-information-examples.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "The Double Clap (information & examples from Gospel, R&B, & Pop Music)".

****
INFORMATION ABOUT "THE LOW COUNTRY CLAP" THAT ACCOMPANIES GULLAH GEECHEE SINGNG
From https://www.seasidemb.com/blog/gullah-geechee-culture-of-the-low-country/ GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE OF THE LOW COUNTRY, 1/8/2021
"When most travelers think of coastalSouth Carolina, they have visions of white sandy beaches, great restaurants,and all the glitz and glamour of Myrtle Beach. While those attractions are great,theres a fantastic culture here that is often overlooked by vacationers: TheGullah Geechee culture of the Low Country.

The term Gullah most likely originates from the people of Angola, in Western Africa. When slaves were brought to the Low Country, they kept many of their traditions. Through the years, with relative isolation from whites, their culture, dialect, religion, and talents have melded with the Native American and Creole influences in the area. Gullah culture stretches from the Cape Fear River in Wilmington all the way to the Sea Islands of Georgia. The term Geechee is derived from the Ogeechee river, near Savannah. The proud history and traditions of these amazing people are fascinating and have had a PROFOUND influence on the Low Country.

When rice fields were established in South Carolina and Georgia, the descendants of people originating in Africas Rice Coast were able to use their skills and talents to help establish a tremendous food source and cash crop which has had lasting effects on our economy. The first freed slaves of South Carolina were in the Low Country, the majority of which were Gullah. After the Civil War ended, the Gullah people were able to develop and sustain their culture with isolation from the rest of the world. To this day, you are able to visit markets, vendors, and see, hear, and taste the amazing impact of the Gullah culture.

So, what are some of the things you might see, hear, and taste when you want to experience Gullah culture onyour next trip to the beach? Youre in luck, because you wont have to go farto broaden your love of our area.

...Music:

Gullah music finds its roots in African songs, which served to entertain, ease the monotony of work, educate children, and for religion. Following an AAB pattern, with lots of call and response, Gullah songs involve everyone! Simple drums, hand claps, feet stomps, and voices make up the instrumentation. Gullah music has some great syncopation, which had a definite influence on South Carolinas jazz history. There are lots of Gullah playlists out there on services like Spotify and YouTube. Its very soothing music to have on while you work, cook, or simply relaxing. Just like the cuisine, Gullah music is made up of sounds and stories borrowed from Europeans, Native Americans, Southern, and African people. Ostinato patterns are the staple of Gullah songs and compliment the music of the soul, like great food and company."...

****

SHOWCASE VIDEOS

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
This video is given at the top of this post.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Yonder Come Day

John Melville Bishop, Dec 13, 2009

Georgia Sea Island Singers from the DVD- The Films of Bess Lomax Hawes- available from http://www.media-generation.com

-snip-
According to a comment in this video's discussion thread, this film clip was recorded in 1963.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Lowcountry Clap aka Charleston Clap - South Carolina

BRENDA J. PEART, Oct 25, 2019  #Jamaica #airbnb #AroundJAin7Days

When drums were outlawed the Gullah Geechee made their own sounds combining their African rhythms ....

 Listen carefully across the diaspora and your hear similar patterns

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - The Lowcountry Sound

Karen E. Thrower, May 5, 2016

Rev. Isaac Holt and Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Choir capturing the sound of the Lowcountry. Charleston,SC

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - "Already Done" Low Country Church Singing and Hand Clapping



Sylvia B-Send Judah First, Jun 24, 2023

This is church! Yes indeed! Nobody does it better,  bring the Low country clap with you each Sunday.  Love this! Beautiful Church Too!  Nothing like Low Country singing and hand clapping!

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

Nine Videos Of African American Church Single Time & Double Time Hand Clapping

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on African American church hand clapping.

This post showcases nine videos of single time and double time African American church hand clapping.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/04/pancocojams-reprint-hand-clapping-in.html for Part I of this series. That post provides general information and comments about hand clapping in many African American churches & in African American Gospel concerts.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the composers, choir directors, vocalists, and musicians whose songs are featured in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Most of this post's content was originally published on pancocojams in 2012. That 2012 post has no comments.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I'm particularly interested in showcasing (and documenting) the ways that African American church choirs (and church congregations) clap their own hands while singing, including the fact that every choir member doesn't clap single time or clap double time exactly the same ways.

In some of these videos people are seen applauding a choir prior to their performance and applauding the choir after they finish their performance. These videos are probably Gospel concerts and not choir renditions during church since a number of African American churches frown upon "applauding" singers. However, in those same African American churches as well as in other African American churches, people are usually encouraged to clap in agreeance with and/or appreciation for what the person might say while introducing the choir's song. Also, it is also acceptable for people to clap along with the choir or group.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in no particular order with no information about the types of soulful hand clapping that is performed.

Example #1: Rev. Timothy Wright - Who's On the Lord's Side



malacomg, May 23, 2014
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=423&v=2hbKoFhcb_U&feature=emb_logo for a 2012 video entitled "Timothy Wright - "Who's On The Lord's Side!". That video shows that African American Gospel concert audience applauding the next performers and clapping in acknowledgment, aggreeance, and/or appreciation for what the director of that choir is saying. Unfortunately, that video has very poor visuals and audio.

****
Example #2: I miss double clap church songs



KevOnStage, Oct 18, 2016

****
Example #3: Chicago Mass Choir- "I'm Going With Jesus"



newhavenvideos, Oct 9, 2012


Chicago Mass Choir- "I'm Going With Jesus"
From their album "Live In Nashville"
New Haven Records
-snip-
This album was first released in 2003.

****
Example #4: Hand Clapping Foot Stomping 1 Hour Of Traditional Gospel Music Mix



Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel, Aug 13, 2016

****
Example #5: "Step Back, Let God Do It"- Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir



Rowoches, Sep 15, 2014

DISCLAIMER- I don't own the rights to this video. This is a fan post, sharing history* : The late Dr. Charles G. Hayes & the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir. The song was edited on album I'LL NEVER FORGET, but this is the full version. The unmistakable Diane Williams, soloist.
Category

****
Example #6: "Hallelujah Anyhow" - Rev. Clay Evans



Uploaded by malacomg on Oct 29, 2010

****
Example #7: Detroit Mass Choir - Climbing Up The Mountain/Hallelujah



Uploaded by gooblaprea on Aug 3, 2011

Detroit Mass Choir singing two classic songs. With Ora Watkins-Jones and Gabrielle Johnson on lead.

****
Example #8: Soul Children - Weeping May Endure For A Night



Uploaded by reesamae on Feb 19, 2010

Soul Children singing JOY - Weeping May Endure for a Night (Chicago)

This is the one and only Recording Artist and The Legendary Courtney Duncan from the Grammy nominated Soul Children of Chicago. He is now Pastor Courtney C. (Duncan) Maxwell (search youtube vids), and was a legendary vocalist with Walt Whitman and the choir in the 90's. He now pastor's Greater Deliverance Temple in Chicago, IL. PURE RARE ANOINTING, he has had since childhood

****
Example #9: Mississippi Mass Choir - I'm Not Tired Yet



uploaded by TheSevenChosen on Oct 17, 2011

Mississippi Mass Choir - I'm Not Tired Yet

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-time-handclapping-foot-stomping-in.html
"Old Time Handclapping & Foot Stomping In African American Religious Singing"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Pancocojams Reprint: Hand Clapping In African American Churches, Part I (information and comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on hand clapping in African American services and/or religious concerts.

This post provides general information and comments about hand clapping in many African American churches & in African American Gospel concerts.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/04/nine-videos-of-african-american-church_3.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents nine videos which showcase examples of hand clapping in African American churches & African American Gospel concerts.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This is a reprint of a 2012 post that was published on pancocojams in 2012. That post has no comment.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS
I'm writing this post because I haven't found any online articles that provide details of what is usually referred to as "soulful hand clapping" in African American churches. Because I'm neither a musician or musicologist or apparently someone who understands music definitions found on sites like Wikipedia, I've been looking for (and still haven't found) easy to understand explanations of how hand clapping is done in African American churches.

I know that there's more than one style of soulful hand clapping & I know how to "clap soulfully" But I don't feel confident about my ability to explain the differences between "soulful hand clapping" and "non-soulful hand clapping"(a phrase btw that I've never seen before). I've read that the beats that are emphasized in soulful hand clapping are 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3. For instance, here's a comment posted on http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262429 by Mister Rik:
"*heh* One of the little joke you hear in group singing situations (such as church) is that where you clap indicates how "black" you are. i.e. if you clap on 1 & 3, you must be really white; clapping on 2 & 4 indicates "black". This derives from the traditional image of an all-white congregation clapping on 1 & 3 as compared to a black Southern Baptist congregation all clapping on 2 & 4.

If you're clapping along with, say, a march or ragtime song, 1 & 3 would be appropriate. If you're clapping along with rock & roll, country, gospel, jazz, etc, 2 & 4 is appropriate. Basically, listen for the snare drum and clap where you hear it."
-end of quote-

I've read that when the second and fourth beat are emphasized that is "offbeat" or "downbeat" and when the first and third beat are emphasized that is "on beat". I've also read that soulful handclapping can be done in "double time or "double off-beat". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(music) "Beat (music)"

And I've read about Black people clapping "between the beats", and doing "polyrhythmic clapping". http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=53920#836017 "Jerry R's 'Black/White Gospel Workshop". I added several comments to that discussion thread but I choose not to muddy the water here with any attempt to explain any of those musical terms. However, I believe that persons interested in this subject may appreciate Part II of this post which presents videos that showcase one or more styles of soulful handclapping.

Instead of trying to explain how soulful hand clapping is done, I've chosen to focus on another part of this topic that I've not found online - when and why soulful hand clapping is done in Black churches & Black religious concerts. I feel much more confident to comment about this portion of that subject because of my experiences as a Black person who is a member of a Black church and who has attended a number of Black churches. I've listed the reasons for soulful clapping in church & church related events with the important qualifier that I think that the acceptance of hand clapping in African American (and other Black churches) has changed overtime and also differs then and now depending on what denomination of church a Black person attends, and also probably what pastor is in charge of that church.

As a general statement, it seems to me that COGIC (Church of God In Christ) churches and some other Pentecostal Christian churches have a much higher degree of acceptance and practice of hand clapping during church services than some Baptist (particularly Northern Baptist) or Methodist or Presbyterian or other Protestant denominations. And while there Catholic churches that are afro-centric such as Saint Benedict The Moor in my adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in which soulful hand clapping is encouraged, I think it's safe to say that most Black Catholic congregations don't do much soulful hand clapping.

Without further introductory comments, here's my list of when hand clapping is done in African American churches/religious events:

(The reasons listed are presented in no quantitative order.)

HAND CLAPPING MAY OCCUR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES
1. as accompaniment for singing and/or instrumental music

2. as a way of praising God

Ministers and choir leaders often direct the congregation to "Give God some praise". The congregation then claps their hands.

3. as an expression of approval and/or agreement about what is being heard or seen, including the way portions of a song are sung or played, or the way a mime group performs a dance

In contrast to Anglo-American customs, it's traditional, acceptable, and expected in many African American (and other Black) churches and other Black venues for people to show their approval of what is being sung or said or the music that is being performed by applauding during the performance.

4. as a voluntary or involuntary expression of jubilation, excitement, and/or exhilaration, including an expression of feeling the Holy Spirit

5. as applause at the conclusion of musical performances*

*It seems to me that there has been some change in the position on the suitability of clapping in church after a choir sings. In the Baptist church I was a member of in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1950s to 1970s until I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the congregation was discouraged from clapping after the choir sang or anyone else in the program sang. I think this was because the pastors wanted to make a clear distinction that was made between a church worship service and an entertainment program. Instead of clapping at the end of the choir's rendition (or a song sung by any other vocalist or vocalists), it was acceptable for members of that congregation to say "Amen!" or "Praise God!" or similar exclamations. However, since at least the 2000s, it appears to now be acceptable for members of that congregation to applaud after musical numbers. Yet it's still unacceptable for people to applaud the minister at the conclusion of his or her sermon, or applaud a person at the end of his or her prayer.

HANDCLAPPING MAY OCCUR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN RELIGIOUS CONCERTS

1. as applause made to recognize distinguished guests who are pointed out by the master or mistress of ceremony

2. as applause made to acknowledge, show respect for, and/or show appreciation for speakers & singers prior to them speaking or singing (This includes applause during the introduction of speakers, vocalists, or musicians).

3. as a way of praising God

4. as applause at the conclusion of the spoken, sung, or instrumental musical performances (This does not include sermons or prayers or music sung for church offerings)

Choirs may also clap after their rendition of a song. If so, that clapping probably can be best interpreted as "clapping for the words that were sung and not how they sung those words." Another way to put this is that the hand claps that the choir makes, and also at least in part, the applause that the congregation makes at the conclusion of a song are directed to the glory of God.

5. as accompaniment for singing and/or instrumental music

6. as an expression of approval and/or agreement about what is being heard and/or seen, including the way portions of a song are sung or played or the way a mime group performs a dance

7. as a voluntary or involuntary expression of jubilation, excitement, and/or exhilaration, including an expression of feeling the Holy Spirit

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-time-handclapping-foot-stomping-in.html
"Old Time Handclapping & Foot Stomping In African American Religious Singing"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Hand Clapping In African American Churches, Part II (Videos)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on hand clapping in African American churches.

This post presents seven videos which showcase types of hand clapping in African American churches & during African American Gospel concerts.

Part I provides general comments about the when and why handclapping is done in many African American churches & African American Gospel concerts. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/handclapping-in-african-american.html for Part I of this series.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the composers, choir directors, vocalists, and musicians whose songs are featured in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
(These videos are of African American Gospel music, including what I consider to be "Gospelized Spirituals" - Spirituals performed in a Gospel style.

These showcase videos are presented in no particular order with no information about the types of soulful hand clapping that is performed.

(Update: April 2, 2020: Videos #1 and #3 replace those that are no longer available.)


Example #1: Timothy Wright"Who's On The Lord's Side!"



TheBLSsingers, Apr 14, 2012

Timothy Wright On Saturday Nite Sing!"

****
Example #2: Florida Mass Choir "All Night All Day"



Uploaded by chj333 on Apr 7, 2009

Florida Mass Choir "All Night All Day" directed by V. Michael McKay

****
Example #3: "Step Back, Let God Do It"- Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir



Rowoches, Sep 15, 2014

DISCLAIMER- I don't own the rights to this video. This is a fan post, sharing history* : The late Dr. Charles G. Hayes & the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir. The song was edited on album I'LL NEVER FORGET, but this is the full version. The unmistakable Diane Williams, soloist.
Category

****
Example #4: "Hallelujah Anyhow" - Rev. Clay Evans



Uploaded by malacomg on Oct 29, 2010

****
Example #5: Detroit Mass Choir - Climbing Up The Mountain/Hallelujah



Uploaded by gooblaprea on Aug 3, 2011

Detroit Mass Choir singing two classic songs. With Ora Watkins-Jones and Gabrielle Johnson on lead.

****
Example #6: Soul Children - Weeping May Endure For A Night



Uploaded by reesamae on Feb 19, 2010

Soul Children singing JOY - Weeping May Endure for a Night (Chicago)

This is the one and only Recording Artist and The Legendary Courtney Duncan from the Grammy nominated Soul Children of Chicago. He is now Pastor Courtney C. (Duncan) Maxwell (search youtube vids), and was a legendary vocalist with Walt Whitman and the choir in the 90's. He now pastor's Greater Deliverance Temple in Chicago, IL. PURE RARE ANOINTING, he has had since childhood

****
Example #7: Mississippi Mass Choir - I'm Not Tired Yet



uploaded by TheSevenChosen on Oct 17, 2011

Mississippi Mass Choir - I'm Not Tired Yet

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-time-handclapping-foot-stomping-in.html
"Old Time Handclapping & Foot Stomping In African American Religious Singing"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Hand Clapping In African American Churches, Part I (information and comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on hand clapping in African American services and/or religious concerts. This post provides general comments about the reasons for hand clapping in many African American churches & African American Gospel concerts.

Part II presents seven videos which showcase types of handclapping in African American churches & Gospel concerts. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/handclapping-in-african-american_26.html for Part II of this series.

The content of this post is presented for religious and folkloric purposes.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENTS
I'm writing this post because I haven't found any online articles that provide details of what is usually referred to as "soulful hand clapping" in African American churches. Because I'm neither a musician or musicologist or apparently someone who understands music definitions found on sites like Wikipedia, I've been looking for (and still haven't found) easy to understand explanations of how hand clapping is done in African American churches.

I know that there's more than one style of soulful hand clapping & I know how to "clap soulfully" But I don't feel confident about my ability to explain the differences between "soulful hand clapping" and "non-soulful hand clapping"(a phrase btw that I've never seen before). I've read that the beats that are emphasized in soulful hand clapping are 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3. For instance, here's a comment posted on http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262429 by Mister Rik:
"*heh* One of the little joke you hear in group singing situations (such as church) is that where you clap indicates how "black" you are. i.e. if you clap on 1 & 3, you must be really white; clapping on 2 & 4 indicates "black". This derives from the traditional image of an all-white congregation clapping on 1 & 3 as compared to a black Southern Baptist congregation all clapping on 2 & 4.

If you're clapping along with, say, a march or ragtime song, 1 & 3 would be appropriate. If you're clapping along with rock & roll, country, gospel, jazz, etc, 2 & 4 is appropriate. Basically, listen for the snare drum and clap where you hear it."
-end of quote-

I've read that when the second and fourth beat are emphasized that is "offbeat" or "downbeat" and when the first and third beat are emphasized that is "on beat". I've also read that soulful handclapping can be done in "double time or "double off-beat". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(music) "Beat (music)"

And I've read about Black people clapping "between the beats", and doing "polyrhythmic clapping". http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=53920#836017 "Jerry R's 'Black/White Gospel Workshop". I added several comments to that discussion thread but I choose not to muddy the water here with any attempt to explain any of those musical terms. However, I believe that persons interested in this subject may appreciate Part II of this post which presents videos that showcase one or more styles of soulful handclapping.

Instead of trying to explain how soulful hand clapping is done, I've chosen to focus on another part of this topic that I've not found online - when and why soulful hand clapping is done in Black churches & Black religious concerts. I feel much more confident to comment about this portion of that subject because of my experiences as a Black person who is a member of a Black church and who has attended a number of Black churches. I've listed the reasons for soulful clapping in church & church related events with the important qualifier that I think that the acceptance of hand clapping in African American (and other Black churches) has changed overtime and also differs then and now depending on what denomination of church a Black person attends, and also probably what pastor is in charge of that church.

As a general statement, it seems to me that COGIC (Church of God In Christ) churches and some other Pentecostal Christian churches have a much higher degree of acceptance and practice of hand clapping during church services than some Baptist (particularly Northern Baptist) or Methodist or Presbyterian or other Protestant denominations. And while there Catholic churches that are afro-centric such as Saint Benedict The Moor in my adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in which soulful hand clapping is encouraged, I think it's safe to say that most Black Catholic congregations don't do much soulful hand clapping.

Without further introductory comments, here's my list of when hand clapping is done in African American churches/religious events:

(The reasons listed are presented in no quantitative order.)

HAND CLAPPING MAY OCCUR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES
1. as accompaniment for singing and/or instrumental music

2. as a way of praising God

Ministers and choir leaders often direct the congregation to "Give God some praise". The congregation then claps their hands.

3. as an expression of approval and/or agreement about what is being heard or seen, including the way portions of a song are sung or played, or the way a mime group performs a dance

In contrast to Anglo-American customs, it's traditional, acceptable, and expected in many African American (and other Black) churches and other Black venues for people to show their approval of what is being sung or said or the music that is being performed by applauding during the performance.

4. as a voluntary or involuntary expression of jubilation, excitement, and/or exhilaration, including an expression of feeling the Holy Spirit

5. as applause at the conclusion of musical performances*

*It seems to me that there has been some change in the position on the suitability of clapping in church after a choir sings. In the Baptist church I was a member of in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1950s to 1970s until I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the congregation was discouraged from clapping after the choir sang or anyone else in the program sang. I think this was because the pastors wanted to make a clear distinction that was made between a church worship service and an entertainment program. Instead of clapping at the end of the choir's rendition (or a song sung by any other vocalist or vocalists), it was acceptable for members of that congregation to say "Amen!" or "Praise God!" or similar exclamations. However, since at least the 2000s, it appears to now be acceptable for members of that congregation to applaud after musical numbers. Yet it's still unacceptable for people to applaud the minister at the conclusion of his or her sermon, or applaud a person at the end of his or her prayer.

HANDCLAPPING MAY OCCUR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN RELIGIOUS CONCERTS

1. as applause made to recognize distinguished guests who are pointed out by the master or mistress of ceremony

2. as applause made to acknowledge, show respect for, and/or show appreciation for speakers & singers prior to them speaking or singing (This includes applause during the introduction of speakers, vocalists, or musicians).

3. as a way of praising God

4. as applause at the conclusion of the spoken, sung, or instrumental musical performances (This does not include sermons or prayers or music sung for church offerings)

Choirs may also clap after their rendition of a song. If so, that clapping probably can be best interpreted as "clapping for the words that were sung and not how they sung those words." Another way to put this is that the hand claps that the choir makes, and also at least in part, the applause that the congregation makes at the conclusion of a song are directed to the glory of God.

5. as accompaniment for singing and/or instrumental music

6. as an expression of approval and/or agreement about what is being heard and/or seen, including the way portions of a song are sung or played or the way a mime group performs a dance

7. as a voluntary or involuntary expression of jubilation, excitement, and/or exhilaration, including an expression of feeling the Holy Spirit

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-time-handclapping-foot-stomping-in.html
"Old Time Handclapping & Foot Stomping In African American Religious Singing"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.