312  Music at 2K decibels

Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2001 21:53:03 -0500
From: Alan McPherron <mcph+@PITT.EDU>
Subject: Music at 2K decibels

Benjamin wrote:

> Just a small point to add here - I try to do my part and turn up
> whenever there is live music offered. However, at the last few milongas
> I attended that also offered live music, my enjoyment was marred by
> inappropriate amplification. That is to say, someone (either the host or
> the person in charge of the musicians' equipment setup) had turned the
> amplification up too high, to the extent that I was unable to enjoy...
> . . .
> The music was good, but the excessive volume threatened my hearing
> and became a distraction instead of an enticement to dance.
>

It seems that "Live Music==Rock Music" to many people. But the latter is
normally played so to be absorbed by the body, not the ears (which will
definitely be damaged). I've had to walk out of Salsa dances. I've even
been to concerts of classical Indian music where the same despicable
horror goes on. Will it soon be happening to string quartets playing
Mozart? We need a "Society for Natural Music" (no artifical
amplification).

-- Alan McPherron, Pittsburgh Tangueros