Klarinet Archive - Posting 000079.txt from 1997/09

From: SDM@-----. Morrow)
Subj: Dance Music Substitutions (was FALSE ALARM)
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 14:31:21 -0400

>> Andy Scholberg writes:

>If someone puts the bite on me to
>chaperone a
>> >teenage dance, do I worry about my hearing? YES! (That happened last
>year,
>> >and it was a miserable experience, but I protected myself with ear
>plugs.)
>> > Hard rock and gangsta rap isn't music. It's racket. It's
>abrasive,
>> >strident, and grotesque. The volume is routinely cranked up well beyond
>the
>> >sound of a jumbo jet at takeoff. I feel sorry for people who make it a
>> >normal part of their environment. Besides the damage to hearing, think
>of
>> >the damage to the soul. The "lyrics" are beyond disgusting.
>> > If anyone is looking for an alternative to hard rock, let me
>suggest
>> >Gregorian chant.

Andy,
The last dance I went to that substituted Gregorian Chants for rock
music wasn't all that fun! I admit that dancing to such hits as "Chantses
Are..." and "Take A Chants On Me" was different (and the "Fats Domino su
Requiem Medley" was downright fascinating!), the novelty wore off very
quickly!
Seriously, I don't think it's so much the TYPE of music as the
VOLUME of the music. I agree that most music is simply played too loud! My
theory is that the idea is to make it impossible to talk so you don't have
to worry about making conversation!

-Scott (who LOVES cranking up his Gregorian Chants into triple-digit
decibels just to annoy the neighbors!)

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410) 955-3631

SDM@-----.edu