Chris Bonds wrote:

>Oh, and I'll weigh in by saying I don't think it shows disrespect at all,
>but rather involvement. Definitely not trying to call one's attention to
>oneself. No one with a musical ear, leastways the performer, could call it
>beautiful.

I suspect Chris is right about the involvement.  I wouldn't be
surprised if the performers weren't even aware that they were making any
humming/groaning sound while performing.  I know of a couple people, who,
when they are deeply concentrating on a project of some kind, make gutteral
sounds (grunts?) and are not aware of making them so why not someone
performing music?

Mary Esterheld
Office of the Provost