Bang on!

Orchestra drops piece for being ‘too loud’

By Sam Wilson

Last Updated: 6:59pm BST 09/04/2008

 

A German orchestra has been forced to drop a composition from a concert after its members claimed the music was so loud that it gave them headaches.
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR) decided to abandon the world premiere of Swedish-Israeli composer Dror Feiler’s Halat Hisar (State of Siege) after it was found to be “adverse to the health” of its musicians.
Several members of the 100-strong orchestra complained of buzzing in the ears hours after rehearsals of the 20-minute piece, which begins with a rattle of machine-gun fire that gradually increases in volume.
They said they would only play the ear-splitting composition if they were allowed to wear headphones, according to The Guardian.
The orchestra’s manager, Trygve Nordwall, said he had to put his musician’s health before the concert, complying with new EU rules that forbid more than 85 decibels in the workplace.
Readings were taken during rehearsals and even when toned down, Halat Hisar measured about 130 decibels, equivalent to hearing a jet plane taking off.
Critics have pointed out that if the new EU rules were applied in all cases this would effectively ban louder pieces by composers such as Strauss and Wagner.

Daily Telegraph