Queen’s composer starts campaign against ‘moronic muzak’ in lifts, shops
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
LONDON - The Queen’s official composer has started campaigning against what he calls ‘moronic muzak’ that plays in lifts, shops and call centres.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies claimed that piped muzak was an “invasion of privacy” and was killing our capacity to enjoy peace and silence.
The 76-year-old, who will be scoring some of the music for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, has joined campaign group Pipedown, whose other celebrity supporters include Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Tom Conti and Prunella Scales.
“I have just had enough of it. I was driven out of Waterstones in Oxford Street, London, this week because I could not stand the rubbish being played in the name of background music,” the Telegraph quoted Sir Peter, from Orkney, as saying.
“I had a 100 pound book token and I just could not stand the noise to spend it. If I hear piped music being played to supposedly soothe me as I wait on the phone I put the receiver down,” he added.
“We should all give peace a chance and we need more of it in our lives, not less. Muzak is killing our capacity to enjoy peace and silence.”
Sir Peter also said that it was impossible to teach somebody the subtleties and nuances of music if such “rubbish” was constantly played in the background. (ANI)
