[TPIN] Are Symphony Orchestras Today Too Loud?

[Andy Del]

Well, no one else is going to say it, but yes, I think orchestras are
making more sound than in the past. There are a number of reasons for
this, which, IMHO all combine to have this effect.

(As an aside, my partner, who is not a musician, has expressed her
amazement at the level of sound an orchestra can put out. And that was
only a Tschaik symphony, there were comments about environmental hazard
areas when we (an OK community orchestra played the Verdi Requiem)

The first factor is the instruments themselves. There is a trend to
having instruments which project more and more. Just think about the
options you may be able to have on a Bach - heavy bell, bore size,
reduction of resistance with reverse leadpipes and rounded tuning
slides, mega mouthpieces, all the way to Monette's contributions. That's
just trumpets, trombones have changed greatly as have tubas in the last
50 years. Woodwind are subtly changing as well, there are developments
in padding that effect clarinet sound and projection.

Then there's the audience expectation. The vast bulk of music listened
to is recorded, and 'newer' technologies, such as digital recording have
allowed for greater range of dynamics, so people expect to hear very,
very soft and very, very loud.

Conductors tend to want to impress with grand gestures of extremes as
well (sometimes they are even considerate enough to be reasonable!).
Last weekend's concerts of Schubert Symphony #whatever - The Great - saw
me playing so loud and soft in the second movement I started to wonder
if I was right, or just plain misreading the gestures out front...

Just these few factors add up to louder (and softer) orchestras, as far
as I hear it (ringing in my ears). 

Cheers

Andy