August 26, 2003

In a move that will have an impact on orchestras all over Europe, the European Union has issued a directive that cuts allowable decibel levels to 85.

Orchestras can get as loud as 98 decibels during performances of certain classical pieces. The idea is to limit noise exposure to workers, but in the process it will force orchestras to change everything from concert progams to rehearsal schedules and even stage layouts.

The Guardian of London reports that to meet the new guidelines, orchestras are looking at all kinds of options. Those include giving musicians earplugs and putting up sound absorbent panels between instrument sections.

--Betsy O'Connor, KDFC News

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Let the E.U. be a world leader! Now what about rock concerts where sound levels of 140 db are normal, and people in the audience have been permanently deafened or suffer severe permanent nerve damage? Or is this strictly for classical music? Many rock “artists” already have enough sense to wear earplugs.

For those that know something about sound, I have always wondered from what point sound measurements are made? During my engineering days I was responsible for many things including The Measurement of Sound, according to International Standards. Are such measurements as referred to in the media in the middle of the “pit” or two miles away? :)


Tom