Bernie wrote:
>
> >There will be some 50,000-80,000 cyclists here in Milwaukee for
>>harley fest labor day weekend. They will parade at .5mph-- each one
>>rev-ing up and down fin full display. I know from analyzing the
>>recordings that Harleys, alone, make up a very large part of the
>>ubiquitous urban "rumble" that evelopes us-- even without the
>>visiting riders. At this moment, a fireworks display downtown pounds
>>through the walls of my studio. What is this infatuation for loud
>>sounds about?
>
>
>A resident biologist studying environmental impact of noise (how's
>that for a contradiction in terms?) from the U. S. Army's Aberdeen
>Proving Ground attended a National Park Service meeting on noise in
>Washington DC this past spring and was telling us in his report that
>cannon sounds had little or no effect on elk herds in the wild or
>birds at the end of runways at military airports. Ergo, by extension,
>cannon noise has little lasting effect on humans. I reminded him
>about R. Murray Schafer's (the Canadian composer/artist/author and
>fellow who estabilshed the word, "soundscape," in the late 70s)
>comment: "If cannons made no noise, they would never be used in war."
>Not to be upstaged and reaching deeply into his soul, Bill (the
>biologist) sputtered, "Well, there's a woman on our base who strongly
>believes that cannon is the sound of freedom." "Depends on which side
>of the cannon you're standing," I said.
>
>James Watt (Ronald Reagan's Sec. of the Interior until he was fired)
>on noise: "Noise is power."
>
>Bernie
>--
>Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
>P. O. Box 536
>Glen Ellen, CA 95442
>707-996-6677 tel
>707-996-0280 fax
>http://www.wildsanctuary.com
Hi Bernie--
Great stories. Power for the producer, and subjection for everyone
else. Complaints and ordinances against annoying sounds like truck
whining, airports, racetracks are increasing. Even for background
levels, Michael Powers, an economist from Montana, has written about
increased quiet being a strong motivation behind a lot of important
decisions we make in their lives. He argues that the suburban
movement is a response largely to increased urban sound levels. We
all observe that people are spending less and less time outside,
spending more time with headphones, etc.
The facts we encounter in our recordings are having powerful
influence on us. We can hear some of the missing link between
perception and appropriate animal response. We are discovering, if
any one is, examples of unnecessary subjection/stupid sound designs.
I'll notice an awkward exchange between workers in a bagel/coffee
shop but I won't hear the situation fully until I listen to the
recording and discover that the refrigeration sounds measure 95dB and
the workers were having to yell though standing only four feet apart.
Far from a relaxing, hip space to hang,..
I'm curious, are you completely happy with using the term, "noise?"
To me, it implies there are certain sound elements that need to be
purged rather than pleasures and values that we as animals have the
power to recall and use if we choose. As recordists, we've learned to
identify sources and the exact offending qualities because we know
what's being buried and some of the alternative events that can bring
more insight, pleasure. I discourage students from using the term
and it does seem to help them hear better.
Thanks again for your leadership and prerequisite humor on this
important front Bernie!
Rob
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