ABSTRACT
During the second half of the nineteenth century, a heightened sensitivity to the acoustic environment could be clearly observed in European cities. In a context of expanding urbanization and industrialization, urban sound spheres radically changed. This chapter examines the new acoustic conditions in public space and analyzes their social and cultural backgrounds. As urban space became increasingly crowded, people’s behavior was subjected to more and more regulatory and disciplinary measures, which also had repercussions on the acoustic perception of the urban environment. A new auditory culture emerged that was highly influenced by middle-class concepts. The perception of music changed, and the fight against noise reached its first peak.
