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Tinnitus news
30/04/2008
Addio fortissimo?
The fact that musicians have higher than average rates of tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss than those in other professions was just one of the many reasons the European noise-at-work limits were brought in.
Now, as a measure to protect its members from developing tinnitus or industrial deafness, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra have had to cancel the world premiere of their rendition of the piece "State of Siege" by composer Dror Feiler.
The move was taken after a risk assessment found that the piece recorded an average volume of 97.4 decibels, violating the new limits and falling only marginally below those recorded by noisy industrial machinery such as pneumatic drills.
The orchestra's manager commented on the decision, saying, "I had no choice."
Clearly aware of the number of hearing loss-related personal injury compensation claims made each year, he added, "The decision was not made artistically; it was made for the protection of the players."
Some music purists fear that the new noise-at-work limits could spell the end of classical music's long tradition of fortissimo pieces (those which are loud and rousing). Chris Clark, orchestra operations manager with the Royal Opera House commented that conductors are being encouraged to consider alternatives to "going for a big loud orchestration".
It is not only classical music that is affected by the new Europe-wide limits, other music workers are also better protected from both the hearing-related conditions themselves and the need to make no win, no fee claims for them. An increase in the use of earplugs is just one consequence of this. It remains to be seen whether the moves will result in a decrease in incidences of workplace tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss.
