Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 2007/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: loud bands (nearly OT)
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 10:50:10 -0400

At 09:26 AM 7/21/2007, Juanfran wrote:
>Well, Berlioz and his "huge orchestral forces" could have been also
>so loud to intimidate the audience.
>
>Some pipe organs also are big enougth to reach very high intensity
>levels (I've seen two pipe organs where the organist nedeed some
>sort of "case", wich enclosed him, not to get "ear hurted" with the
>"full organ" intensity).

The major difference is that in classical music only occasional
climaxes get so loud. In rock music, especially recorded and
artificially compressed rock music, the oppressive loudness stays
nearly constant. Hearing damage is caused by the combination of
loudness and length of exposure. Of course, the musicians
themselves, who are exposed to EVERY performance, as well as
rehearsals, and at the minimum distance from the source, are at much
more risk than the audiences.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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