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Volume.

It is surprising how much change can be effected in the world of music, when you require everything be louder. The more intricate genres are realistically left 2 choices, fade into obscurity or destroy themselves trying to keep up with the volume war.

Even before the era of modern electronic recording, volume wars impacted the world of music in ways most might not know. The accordion for example, has not been around as long as one might think, nor is it an indigenous instrument. It was at the time of it’s invention, a cheap mass manufactured instrument imported into numerous countries. It Stood diametrically apposed to the cultural music heritage of said places.

The accordion mostly bolstered it’s self on it’s relatively high volume aimed at parties and dancing. It's loud nature and fixed even temperament was completely different than the local music it competed with. Because of this, the accordion forced the indigenous music to either change to match it’s even temperament and volume or be drowned out and left behind for being incompatible, which is exactly what happened. What the accordion did was commit soft genocide against the cultural music heritage of the areas it was introduced. It is no wonder at the time, it was referred to as the ”Sin squeezer”, “devil’s lungs” or “Russki fart.”

”The accordion is the arch enemy of folk music. It kills any musical tendencies the nation may have, ravages the ear and drags down musical taste. Do not dance to the screeching, insidious accordions. Burn them.” In such colorful terms was one of Finland’s most popular instruments once described. What irony that so many wrongfully think of the accordion as a "folk instrument".

The same has happened to many other genres of music and culture thanks to the modern loudness war. A war that gave an undeniable advantage to music better suited for parties, drugs and riots. Pushing aside genres that better preserved musical heritage. Over the years loudness has completely changed the world of music. Not just in what kinds of music get made but how they are made, who makes them, how they are listened to and the standards people expect.

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from Path Less Traveled, released January 1, 2004

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Midnight's Ocean New Jersey

Long time composer/production engineer. Apparent pioneer of the "Nontoxic music movement". This site features a wide variety of original non-apologetic musical exploration. Made from the mind & heart. Art as an extension of the human spirit, not corporatism. Herein is sonic material for the adventurous & discerning multimedia project creator, as well as open-minded listener. ... more

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