Interesting. I once attended an astoundingly good performance of Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kiev, I’d never imagined that a piano could be so loud. Stunning is an overused word these days, but it really was!I share your concern. I don't like excessive volume, though I play electric bass, and often like to play music I'm actively listening to quite loud).
Excessive volume might be more prevalent these days, but it's certainly not new. My ears rang for days after seeing Van Der Graaf generator at Chelmsford early 70s, and reggae sound systems I heard early 80s would shake your guts and bones, not just your eardrums!
It's also not new historically. The adoption and development of the piano, for example, was very much influenced by, and itself influenced, the gradual move of classical music out of the drawing room and onto stages in large auditoriums. I'm sure there would have been people in the 17th and 18th centuries who bewailed its increasing prevalence, and that pianos themselves were getting progressively louder.
If only they'd had social media to put a stop to this kind of thing!
p.s. And before anyone suggests a return to exclusively acoustic instruments, try sharing a house with someone who plays trombone!
Classical music can be very loud, but is never painful to the ears. The loudest piece I have ever heard was Scriabin’s Poeme d’Ecstasie that our son was playing in, with I think eight trumpets and the rest to match. There is actually concern about modern instruments, especially the effect of modern trombones on players sitting in front of them and I’m not sure how it is being resolved.
Ah, Ely Cathedral, my wife sang for several years with Ely Choral Society. The undoubted highlight of that time was Messiah performed in the cathedral in December, naturally, when the roof was off for repair. That evening redefined what “cold” meant for me.
Our next house will have no neighbours within 500yds and a room dedicated to hifi. I intend turn it up as I so desire. No tinny speakers for me nor headphones. I intend having a complete replacement hifi suite (existing kit is thirty years old) when that opportunity arises, to hell with the cost.
A friend is a professional classical pianist, and on occasion I have helped him when he needed a page turner. When playing more demanding pieces with a great dynamic range, he is often running with sweat at the end of a piece, such is the effort required.
I sweat when I'm page turning. It's terrifying!
I'm sorry to say so but I find this post distasteful.
OK. I will change it to ‘savages’, assuming that a mark of civilisation is to have respect for other people’s space and privacy.
We have a lovely saying in Irish, "mol an oige agus tiocfaidh siad" which means praise the young and they will improve. The converse is true. They're young. They're trying to find themselves. Don't demonise them. Relax. Don't be such a grumpy, pompous B.
I think the evidence is to the contrary.......most of the old gits on this forum were once young.....is there any evidence that they have improved with time ?
Yes - my ability to read music is only just up to anticipating the point where to turn! But if I get lost, he's happy to nod!
We have a saying in England - “children should be seen but not heard”. Youth should be a time when they are being taught about social norms, which does not include keeping many hundreds of people awake half the night. They will become older at some time themselves and have to live with the consequences of life without moderation if that is the sort of world they are allowed to create.
