SOUND EFFECTS
Something is wrong with the RPO sound in the Eastman
Theatre.
The acoustical changes to the Theatre, completed in 2004,
have yielded a sonic parody of a great hall, a misguided attempt to make the
sound of classical music louder and more impressive, and damn the consequences
to any possible warmth and clarity.
The new sound is indeed louder, with falsely resonant upper
bass, and a false spaciousness related largely to one dominant delayed
reflection. In some seat locations the sound is edgy and even harsh, especially
when the music gets louder and more complex. Clarity is lacking, except in the
balcony. Even there, a bright edge and residual haze makes listening less
fulfilling than in the past.
One Eastman School of Music student, a clarinet player, told
me that there is consensus among the woodwind students that it is now more
difficult, or even impossible, to focus in on fine details while listening from
orchestra seats in the hall, although much easier to hear each other while
playing onstage.
EastmanSchool
historian Vince Lenti’s recent book documents
performances by many world-class musicians at the Eastman Theatre during its
first decade. There is no record that any of them complained about the new Theatre’s
acoustics, or perceived them as problematic.
During the ensuing decades, right up through the famous
’50’s and ’60’s Mercury recordings, the venerable sound of the Theatre remained
unquestioned and admired, except sometimes by the musicians on stage, who had
never received much of their sound back from the hall. Ironically, the recent
resolution of that problem seems linked to the creation of serious new ones for
those who pay to listen.
The 1920’s manufacturer’s brochure for the Zenitherm wood-fiber wallboard used throughout the Eastman
Theatre (in a faux stone look) claimed useful acoustic properties: “The
surface texture and composition of Zenitherm break up
reverberation of sound. Where Zenitherm has been used
in churches, theatres, or auditoriums, the acoustical values of the interior
have been greatly increased.”
Was any empirical testing done before slapping a coat of
polyurethane on the Zenitherm? The new orchestra
shell could be acoustically fine tuned at any time, or even removed, but we are
stuck with the treated walls in perpetuity, short of hanging tapestries to
break up the new glare.
I have little faith that the proposed Phase Two shortening
of orchestra-level seating and adding box seats along the walls will
automatically fine-tune the ambience toward warmth and clarity. Change it, yes.
What concerns me most is the acoustic philosophy of “louder,
brighter, more impact.” Such attributes are superficial compared to the music
itself, and their implementation at the Eastman Theatre has obscured the music.
Emotional affect is being smudged and weakened within a superficially
impressive sonic muddle.
Since the renovation, input from end users (that’s you and
me) has not been solicited. Who will risk telling the Empress that her new
clothes are too gaudy?
For a broader examination of this topic, please visit:
http://users.ohiohills.com/boblaird/eastman-theatre-acoustics-complete-essay.htm.
Bob Laird, Sprongs Bluff Drive, Sodus
POVERTY AND FAILURE
In response to Carl Smith’s letter, “About That Village”
(The Mail, November 30): while a certain amount of tact would have improved his
point, ItaloSavella did
make a good case.
During many times in history, areas of the poor and
impoverished have served to create not crime but art and culture (such as the
Harlem Renaissance). Poverty does not equate with crime; it is a socially
created demon. In the 1800’s, Italians shared the same fate that many blacks
would see: denial of employment, housing, and basic necessity based on race. During
World War II, the Japanese saw internment camps and Jews saw the Holocaust.
Whites have even served as slaves in history. Humans can be a sometimes
disgusting species, regardless of race.
Mr. Savella wrote that the
“African-American community is suffering from a colossal failure of
parenting and an abysmal lack of life-giving moral values.” This has been
stated by many black leaders themselves and is becoming dreadfully true of
society as a whole. But who is at fault? Who cares! We all owe it to our
children to do our absolute best to raise them to be respectful to all races,
sexes, ages, and orientations. Anything less is an inadequate preparation for
life in the real world, where consequences exist for both their actions and
inactions.
“Affordable housing” does exist to the extent
feasible. Between taxes, a mortgage, and repairs, the cost of housing is as low
as it can be in many of the neighborhoods that Mr. Smith cites. Check any local
rental listings for verification. Landlords often own homes not for income but
equity. You can cut the cost slightly by reducing taxes, but tax income is
needed to support the social services these neighborhoods often require for
survival.
Businesses choose not to move into these neighborhoods due
to high crime rates and the abysmal number of skilled workers. Reviving these
neighborhoods requires a commitment to build up the community from both sides
of the table.
It is this fundamental socio-economic flaw that creates the
“segregation” Mr. Smith refers to.
Please do not take criticism from “outsiders” as
insult. The lack of open-minded and honest dialogue only serves to escalate
racial tensions. I can only hope that Mr. Savella’s
comments were intended to say: “Hey, things don’t have to be the way they
are.”
Peter Kline, South Avenue, Rochester
THE VATICAN
SHUT-OUT
The Vatican
has about as much to gain by banning homosexuals from its ranks as Coke had by
messing with its original formula some years ago.
Mark Mason, Oxford Street, Rochester
WRITING TO CITY
We welcome and encourage readers’ letters for publication.
Send them to: themail@rochester-citynews.com or The Mail, City Newspaper, 250
North Goodman Street, Rochester14607.
Our guidelines: We don’t publish anonymous letters — and
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from the same writer more often than about once every two months.
This article appears in Dec 28, 2005 – Jan 3, 2006.
