Beach town in Finland had a rowdy youth problem — until it blasted classical music

[Carla_Sinclair]

Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2024/06/13/beach-town-in-finland-had-a-rowdy-youth-problem-until-it-blasted-classical-music.html

…

[GutRot]

“There are people gathering in a public space and I don’t like it!”

[SpunkyTWS]

@Carla_Sinclair

Local authorities had tried multiple other methods to disperse youths, but nothing worked quite as well as classical music masterpieces like Strauss’ The Blue Danube, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Schubert’s Ave Maria.

No Sibelius? Come on, Suomi, have a little pride in your local talent.

[anon58741709]

As long as they don’t accidentally put any Liszt in the playlist.

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Official Video)

[Jorge_Santos]

I’d stay way from good ol’ Ludwig Van, to avoid attracting droogs. On the other hand, droogs would be sure to keep those rowdy revellers away.

[teknocholer]

"Would you mind turning that up, please?

[gracchus]

In fact, it goes back to at least 1985, when a 7-Eleven store in British Columbia blasted Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, and all the other greats to clear their parking lot of loitering teenagers

They still do this at some stores. A couple of years ago I found myself wondering why there was classical music coming from speakers outside one of their Hollywood locations. I was informed it was there to “keep away the teenagers and homeless people.” (I didn’t delve deeper into the “logic” of unhoused people not liking Mozart or Beethoven).

[GagHalfrunt]

@SpunkyTWS

No Sibelius? Come on, Suomi, have a little pride in your local talent.

Perhaps Sibelius is too exciting.

Karelia: Suite For Orchestra, Op. 11: III. Alla marcia

[Amstrad]

@Carla_Sinclair

despite a few assertive, late-Romantic exceptions like Mussorgsky and Rachmaninoff, the music used to scatter hoodlums is pre-Romantic

I guess Wagner wouldn’t be too effective.

DIE WALKÜRE by Richard Wagner (Audio + Full Score)

[Phil_FR]

@Carla_Sinclair

police blast classical music from a couple of loudspeakers on the beach to keep youths from gathering there after sunset.

You’re telling me that the speakers weren’t either stolen or patched into with ‘young people’ music?

[anon33176345]

Putting Four Seasons on is a good way of getting me to depart as well.

[stinkinbadgers]

@Carla_Sinclair

A symphony official quoted in Hirsch’s book maintains that Baroque composers like Bach are best, because their use of counterpoint and polyphony is challenging and inaccessible.

OFFS counterpoint and polyphony are inaccessible? I mean I just don’t even. It’s so wrong I wouldn’t even know where to start. Maybe I’d start with all the top 40 hits that have used it. The Wings song Silly Love Song is maybe the first one that pops into my head. So inaccessible it was the number one song of 1976.

And I hate the stereotype. Anybody can enjoy it. Even teenagers! Check out (and support!) your local youth symphonies.

Oh and I see plenty of rowdy youth in this :

horncore

[Mister44]

I’m glad I’m not the only one concerned for a possible future Droog problem.

[stinkinbadgers]

@Carla_Sinclair

the music used to scatter hoodlums is pre-Romantic, by Baroque or Classical-era composers such as Vivaldi or Mozart." A symphony official quoted in Hirsch’s book maintains that Baroque composers like Bach are best, because their use of counterpoint and polyphony is challenging and inaccessible.

Actually now that I think about it where they are wrong is that it’s not the counterpoint and polyphony, it’s the constant cultural stereotype from movies and tv, that whenever pre-romantic music is playing it’s conveying stuffiness, upperclass-ness, snootiness, uncoolness. It’s just music, but how it’s used ends up giving it qualities that have nothing to do with its essence.

[p96]

It sounds like a demographic has an unmet need for a space to constructively socialize and participate in activities. If only there was some sort of organization, maybe a body of representative people, that could help that happen.

[Wayward]

@stinkinbadgers

And I hate the stereotype. Anybody can enjoy it. Even teenagers! Check out (and support!) your local youth symphonies.

The local youth orchestra program here is a gem, from the littles sawing away at their 1/4 sized instruments, through the intermediate ensembles that filter out the ones who aren’t that into it anymore, to the upper level orchestras of devoted musicians. It’s Kiddo’s team sport.

[MonkeyT12]

I’ve seen this strategy emerge about every other year since the 1980’s. Thus, the fall of civilization begins when you close the local Barnes & Noble.