Thought for the day - April 2, 2000

Subject: MR-Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 12:49 AM

When Mozart was composing at the end of the eighteenth century, the city of Vienna was so quiet that fire alarms could be given verbally, by a shouting watchman mounted on top of St. Stefan's Cathedral. In twentieth-century society, the noise level is such that it keeps knocking our bodies out of tune and out of their natural rhythms. This ever-increasing assault of sound upon our ears, minds, and bodies adds to the stress load of civilized beings trying to live in a highly complex environment.

~ Steven Halpern ~

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 01:00 AM

Quentin Crisp (paraphrasing) "Why the incessant music (he meant muzak) all the time? Even in train stations..when did we learn to hate the sound of the choo choo? In my day (he meant the 30s) music was like the loo..when we felt the need that's where we went. When we felt the need for music we went to the concert hall."

I guess the cafes in Soho where Mr. Crisp hung out entertaining folks with his brilliant wit, didn't have "sessions" in those days.

Rick

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 01:09 PM

When did we last sit at our terminals without turning the sound on? I can hear the kids next door playing in their garden, I can hear the chap 2 doors down stacking wood, and I can hear my cat licking its parts. When the SO uses the computer, he always puts the speakers on, so you get a succession of bleeps, bloops, sproings and glugs. Wonder when he last heard the blackbird singing in the privet tree, or the sparrows chattering on the fence...

LTS

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: GUEST,Bob
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 02:51 PM

I love to listen to and make music, but Lord it's nice to turn off all the sound once in a while and just enjoy the quiet. It takes a little getting used to, and the urge to break into the silence with some song or whistling is both welcome and irresistible, but the experience of quiet rather than noise as a CONTEXT is really nice. I spent an overnight in western Donegal last June without electronic souind, and the quiet was interrupted by the sheep, the fire, my voice and the tin whistle. I wouldn't necessarily want to spend every night like that, but it was so peaceful I may have to go back there (or at least to some other true outland) again soon.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: MMario
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 02:55 PM

Oddly enough, when "city folk" visit in the country, many times they complain they can't sleep because it is "too noisy"! And I could see where they think so, as they aren't used to the frogs, crickets, cicada, coyotes, foxes, etc.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 03:40 PM

That reminds me MMario, Once on a canoe trip, in a true wilderness setting, I was just ready to fall asleep to that chorus of animals you just mentioned above, but throw in a couple of loons too. When all of a sudden, I hear someone stomping around outside my tent. It felt like it went on for an eternity. My heart was pounding, I was so scared, I could not fall asleep for hours. In my mind it was a crazed axeman coming to get me.
Little did I realize it was a couple of cute bunny rabbits eating the grass outside my tent.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 03:56 PM

Can't stand ANY KIND OF background music! Oh what a curmudgeon I've turned into. I don't even want to go into pubs anymore that have music blaring in the background (foreground actually). Live pickin'? different story.

Rick

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 04:06 PM

So Rick, I guess next year I should not send you one of those musical birthday cards?

LN

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 04:35 PM

Rick, I know what you mean. I used to just be irritated by music I didn't like. Now any ambient music drives me nuts. It's pretty irritating to get a tune half written in my head on the way to the market and have the whole thing erased by noise when I get inside.

I'm lucky to live in a place where cars only occasionally drive by at night. Dogs sometimes bark, but most of what I hear is made up of small critter noises - the peeper frogs were really kickin' it up last night!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 05:07 PM

MMario, I remember years ago after spending all winter in a cabin next to a stream and with small critters all around that when I moved back to a town I had trouble sleeping because it was too quiet. And the occasional car moving down the street was so loud it woke me! Ah, the things we get used to.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Escamillo
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 12:46 AM

Rick, I understand very well your point. I guess I'm a little elder than you, and it could be interesting that I not only can´t stand background music, I am in a slow process of abandonment of all music coming from loudspeakers. I've noticed a growing quantity of excellent CDs unopened, piling up on my shelves, a lot of vynil records ethernally waiting to be recorded on CDs, and my absolute abscence from cinema, PA-based concerts and the like. At the same time I enjoy live concerts more and more, so at least I´m sure not being getting deaf. Well, I think this illness will improve when I reach adultness.
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 12:53 AM

Absolutely Andres (can't find that accent over the e). I think with me, it's becoming a situation where I ONLY listen to music that I want to. (that's still quite a lot) But I don't go to big concerts anymore, and have not been in a movie theatre for years. When I play a workshop at a festival, I always hope there won't be a sound system. Although that becomes a problem for most of the musicians who are used to playing "plugged in".

Rick

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: JamesJim
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 01:41 AM

Hey! All those "noises" are the sounds of life. They are so beautiful. "Ain't" it funny how irritating life can be at times? Beats the alternative. Jim

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 02:05 AM

Funny how being almost totally deaf can be a blessing sometimes, I like my quiet world. If I could just learn to be "almost blind" as well.............

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Songster Bob
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 01:52 AM

Interesting thought for my birthday...

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 03:05 AM

Birthy Happday, Bob!

~S~

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 04:15 AM

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 08:23 AM

There's a beautiful noise, coming up from the street

Wasn't that a sentiment in song?

I can fully sympathise with those of you who prefer quiet, but I have this strange phobia of silence. If I can't hear any background noise, I will get panicky, sweaty, jumpy and start climbing the walls. On the other hand, I can't bear to sit in a pub or cinema where I have to scream just to get a drink or make a comment.... Strange, ain't I!?

The best music is that of your own life, the noise that you and your chosen surroundings make. And you know you are getting old when they play your favourite songs in the supermarket or lift. You are even older if you start singing along!! (Guilty on both counts.....)

LTS

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 09:10 AM

Geez! I KNOW I posted a Happy Birthday to you, Bob! My cat was on my lap, so it must be his fault it doesn't show! Anyway....

Happy Birthday!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 12:44 PM

The constant din of freeway traffic is an underlying and constant theme, punctuated occasionally with contributions from the trumpet section when someone is slow moving off the stoplight. The lead French horn player takes center stage, playing an emotionally charged passage when the cops or ambulance blast through in response to an emergency. A chorus of dogs echoes the lament. Birds respond in counterpoint with their piccolo voices. A sqirrel scraping at the shell of a walnut is providing percussion highlights, while inside the washing machine lays down the basic rhythm track. The snare drum plays the staccato of hot grease popping and crackling on the stove as supper is being prepared. A primordial countertheme may introduce itself in Ivesian fashion if a car passes chest-thumping you with cavernous notes emanating from deep within powerful subwoofers. Key changes and time signatures within a piece shift abruptly with the sound of metal on metal as two cars collide, or the sound of breaking glass as the couple above engage in a violent argument, or the bass drum discharge from a gun signs a fine to the whole movement.

It has tempo, harmony, structure. To the open ear: harsh, sweet, soft, loud, pleasing, offending....It's all music.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 01:34 PM

GUEST! Please come back and sign your Mudcat name! That is some very fine writing! Thank you for the images.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 08:39 PM

Here am I making a firm deciusion to competely ignore anonynmous posts - and the that last GUEST turns up and writesw things I want to respond to and agree with. And soon I predict some other post will appear as GUEST from someone completely different that I won't want to even read.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - April 2, 2000
From: GUEST, The Thread Watcher
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 08:55 PM

Just goes to show you, Kevin

You can't tell a book by it's cover