Although I agree, there is a movement in England which seeks to ban music - and indeed any extraneous noise, such as radio or TV or video games - from pubs. They've published a book called The Quiet pint, which is a directory of pubs that do * not * have music.

What has always fascinated me is that although Quakers (and I know there are Mudcat Quakers) have services which involve the most incredibly atmospheric silences, there is also a Quaker Songbook.

I can't help wondering how anyone gets to hear them...!

- Ian B