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From: nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Volume
Message-ID: <4450@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Jun-85 08:02:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.4450
Posted: Thu Jun 13 08:02:56 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Jun-85 06:37:47 EDT
Distribution: net.music
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 34
Keywords: Marcel Simon

[Crank it.]

I despise acoustic instruments.

I don't mean things like electric guitars, that have parts that actually
phyically vibrate or resonate and are then amplified to loud volume
levels.  No, this flame is directed at those worthless unamplified
devices that obtain all their sonic energy from the player of the
instrument.

There is no such thing as music without volume.  Therefore volume is the
essence of music and by extension music *is* volume.  Music is never so
alive as when played at 150+ decibels and good musicians use a dynamic
range of at least 120 dBs.  The role of a musician is to shape, mold,
re-arrange your ears and thus determine the whole feel of sounds you hear
for the rest of your life.

Perhaps acoustic instruments are useful to composers alone in studios,
but they are worthless in music meant to sound and be alive.  They just
aren't loud enough and every piece of music that uses them sounds DULL,
flat, soft.  Music that uses acoustic instruments doesn't have any
spice, in it -- it doesn't make your ears hurt!  The greatest composer
ever, Lemmy of Motorhead, told me personally that "It isn't worth shit
unless it makes your ears bleed!"  Why should I listen to what anyone
else has to say over one of the top practitioners of the craft?

Acoustic instruments!  I HATE THE DAMN THINGS!!!!!!!!!

				"Motorhead, remember me now
				 Motorhead, alright"

				 Doug Alan
				  nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP
				  nessus@mit-eddie.ARPA