Louder, Loudest and Louderest!

I almost fell off my chair when I saw this article on New York Times: No Fortissimo? Symphony Told to Keep It Down. In summary, a new law in Europe which requires employers in Europe to limit workers’ exposure to potentially damaging noise took effect for the entertainment industry this month, causing all sorts of reactions, including canceling of shows, mixed reactions amongst the classical musicians, buying $300 high tech earplugs, pseudo-ostracizing of brass and percussion, and using foams to cover the pit and absorb the noise in the pit.

Then there’s the “intent” of the music that was being debated. A lot of music are written with a particular sound in mind. Classical music is famous for being able to harness the quietest (say, 4’33” by John Cage) to the loudest symphonies, Mahler being quoted in the article. This is as opposed to many other modern groups, which tend to hold to a consistent noise level, such as rockers and marching bands. The invention of the radio and the incessant overcompression of the dynamic range. IEEE presented a very good explanation of this, which is also what annoys me when I listen to the classical radio stations.

So instead of being the epitome of what good music is supposed to be like (with “hundred of shades of fortissimo”, as the NYT article ended), the entire European continent, which happens to also be the originator as well as the bastion of classical music, is forced to “regulate” themselves out of relevance.

Next thing they will do is to outlaw trombones and send them all to Asia, and play nothing written later than Mozart.

I grew up with “noise”, the loudest trumpet to my right, the next loudest trombone (loudest being myself) to my left, the timpani and drums right behind me. I’m sure if the device that’s use to measure decibels were used, it would have voted my chair the second loudest, the loudest being the drummer’s seat.

I have never used an ear plug (playing music), so unfortunately it has indeed affected my hearing, which I’m indeed prepared for anyway, to use a hearing aid when I reach my 80s or something like that. But it has not diminished my ability to distinguish sound and play music any bit, and that I think a lot of other musicians can attest to. There’s a difference between being able to pick up the smallest decibels (softest) and being able to identify the dynamic, intonation, tone colour / timbre, and many other subtle characteristics of the music.

Is the law really necessary for the entertainers? Only time will tell. If anything were to be an indication, that would be the many other art forms or religious activities that will result in discomfort or destruction of parts of the body. Just ask the devout Indian who’s able to pierce through the skin holding a lot of weight, or the ballet dancers who can stand on their toe, or the mascots who wear heavy huge suits for long hours, or the pop singers who constantly have to breath in smoke from smoke machines on stage while he sings on a “cloud”, or the stunt man in the movies, or to the good ole circus trainer, who constantly carries the risk of being eaten up by a lion any time.

And playing the trombone makes me hungry… all the time… What a sacrifice! 😀