Here I go again mates.

Another link for you to reflect on. I think it's particularly interesting reading for the Brass players among us with overtones (pardon the use of the word) for all of us in an empathetic vein.

Since I wouldn't want to spam the forums I have chosen to post here as opposed to the Viva Brass forum.

Do invite the Brass players among us to have a read would you?

Cheerio mates...

So here it is - the link to the info...

Musicians fear 'sound of silence'

I was talking to some fellow musicians recently who had joined me for a performance of Hello Dolly! The woodwind on this occasion had specifically requested that they be placed behind the three brass players in the orchestra pit. On one previous occasion the tenor sax had his eardrums blown out!

With regard to European Law and its impact on orchestras - Pah to Europe and the PC brigade!


Squeak Squeak

Surely if you went to hear an orchestra, one might think that it might be loud? I think it's terrible they're being asked to play more quietly! If someone wants to wear earplugs, then let them!

And if you've ever played in an orchestra, then you should know that they can be flaming loud.

QUOTE (Dangermouse @ May 31 2005, 12:48 PM)

I was talking to some fellow musicians recently who had joined me for a performance of Hello Dolly! The woodwind on this occasion had specifically requested that they be placed behind the three brass players in the orchestra pit. On one previous occasion the tenor sax had his eardrums blown out! Squeak Squeak  :blink:

Im leaving the politics out of it. But I am curious about the Sax player who got his eardrums blown out!!! How did that happen and how is he doing?

I am currently doing a paper in which I investigate Hearing loss in Musicians - since many musicians seem to end up deaf/hard of hearing.

Politics aside, I still think the article is worthwhile reading. As a matter of fact, there are several sources of research findings about the protection of one's hearing as a musician.

Just over the weekend, I happened upon an Alternative (Rock?) band and I was forced to retreat to the outdoors... When I got in the car I swore my ears were ringing as though I was on Santa's sleigh!!! Those guys seemed to know one tune tho - Loud written by the MacLoud brothers and produced by Loudness Inc.

its musicans choice to play in an orchertra, they know the dangers.
anyway you get used to loud music after a while.
it would ruin some great muisc

You got it dead right matey.
Let those health and safety people go to an average club, disco (or if they want the loud stuff) an HM gig, THEN talk about orchestras. I had to use earplugs at a Hawkwind gig at the Royal Festival Hall as well as choking on sweet, oily-smelling smoke! I always carry earplugs after a Damned concert sometime ago. Like you I had to retreat.
Don't know what the volume does to their ears on-stage. But once the treble sensitivity goes it's gone forever.

About time they looked at noise pollution generally. To hear quiet classical sounds on a portable player against traffic I have to turn the thing up high enough to hurt on the loud bits so I don't bother.

i can see where they're coming from in the article - but they can't do that!
why is it only orchestras that they make an example of? why not rock bands and people who are constantly exposed to music that could be even louder? or is it ok for music to be loud, so long as it isnt classical?
but, as someone has already pointed out, musicians choose to join orchestras, and the risk is with them. they can't ban people from playing the classics...
oh well i'll stop ranting now!

Rant on...!
It's ranting that might get some common sense back into things. Cars kill around 3000 each year in the UK but they aren't banning cars.

Point is, who is complaining?

Well, I dunno, I think it's worth making sure that musicans *do* know the dangers, because I suspect that it's easy to assume that *your* band/orchestra is not *that* loud, and anyway, it must take much more/longer than *this* to damage your hearing, until one day it's too late.

(Thinking of a friend who started up a Deep Purple covers band in deepest Borneo and managed to go pretty deaf despite a startling lack of gigs!)

as a trumpet and cornet player i think it is unfair that they have singled out brass instruments - they are loud, but compared to many electrical instruments, brass are quite tolerable (no ofence to those who play any of the "louder" instruments), but to be honest i find it the most stupid and unthinking thing a government could do, and to what end - what would be the piont - no gvernment could stop all the muscians, bands and orchestras playing what they want when they want. they couldn't do it if they wanted to.