Sounds unlikely

Published on 26/02/2013 00:00

The recent letters on the unwanted piped music in shops, restaurants and cafes only underline the fact that many people do not want to be “entertained” while shopping or relaxing and, as Sharon Duncan emphasised (Letters, 25 February), those who do can choose their own music by using their own personal equipment.

However, while establishments that play “background” music can be avoided there is no such escape when it comes to television programmes where this can get so bad that even the voices of the presenters, providing the narration in factual and informative current affairs and nature programmes, are virtually overpowered by music.

A television programme which promotes the value and beauty of nature – playing music. It simply defies logic.

I accept that “background” music can enhance the “viewing experience” and augment a programme, but when it is played at a level which competes with the narrator then surely something is not quite right.

On the 20 August, 2012, the viewers of a BBC nature programme, Nature’s Microworld, witnessed and heard the noise of a life and death struggle of bull walruses fighting on the beach, the noise of the waves crashing on the shore and music!

The question I have asked, on a number of occasions and yet to receive an intelligent response, is why is music played on such nature and countryside programmes?

Alan McKinney

Beauchamp Road

Edinburgh

Do members of the legal profession not go shopping?

I thought there were legal limits for maintained sound exposure to workers and the general public, which our legal eagles might wish to bring to the attention of the authorities, especially the Health and Safety Executive.

Trevor Stone

Henderland Road

Glasgow