Rock Band Type Music at Mass and Tender Ears

[Phemie]

This would really bother me. I work in an arts centre and I can’t go in and listen to most of the musical acts that play there because the volume is too painful for me. If it’s a group I REALLY want to hear I have to wear earplugs. It’s not something recent, I discovered that at the first big concert I attended 20 years ago. Age has not dulled the acuity of my hearing and I hope it never does.

Mine and my colleagues’ theory is that most musicians have hearing loss that prevents them from hearing just how loudly they are playing. Smart musicians invest early in good ear protection and use it consistently.

 

[exnihilo]

They make ear plugs for musicians that effectively lessen the sound you hear. They don’t muffle it but reduce the volume. They actually make it easier to hear people speaking when surrounded by loud music. I’ve worn them to a few concerts and wouldn’t think of not wearing them in the future. I’d hate to think they would ever be necessary at Mass but I guess that is the case.

 

[pianistclare]

It would be a lot easier to speak with the Pastor.
If one family has this issue, surely many do. Not to mention the elderly that wear hearing aids!
A Pastor wants to have the best Mass experience possible. No pastor wants people to stay away because of poor sound management. That just doesn’t happen.
He likely has no idea what it sounds like since he is in the middle facing AWAY from the speakers. Depending on the shape of the Sanctuary, he may need someone with the music ministry stationed at various points to help discern proper levels. Our musicians do a sound check, but also know what levels to remain within.
Even with modern instrumentation, it doesn’t have to be painful.

 

[27lw]

You could always sit visibly in the front and obviously plug your ears and squirm whenever they play…


We had this happen at one Mass recently. I suspect that the pastor got an earful, because apparently many people were visibly upset.
If your parish started using chant / polyphony (and dropped the rock), you can bet that people would complain. So it’s tempting to complain for the opposite reason (all rock all the time).

I think sometimes pastors just don’t realize that some people want traditional / chant / polyphony. So it couldn’t hurt to gently mention it…along with the volume issue.

 

[ProVobis]

Good thinking. Actually, there are a lot of free phone apps that serve as a sound meter.

I just installed one yesterday. It’s unbelievable how much noise is present when everything seems quiet. I now understand how people become hard of hearing the older they get.

But there really is no excuse for breaking other people’s eardrums.

 

[graciew]

I’m surprised the pastor had not taken it upon himself to address this.
Our Pastor really hates too loud music because it wreaks havoc with his wireless mic.
Just go to one of the other Masses, but yes, mention it to him. **
I’m sure the elderly are also quite **bothered by it.
It’s no big deal to turn it down. People who play electric guitars almost never can hear themselves properly. So they crank it up or use a monitor facing them. We’ve gone round and round with our Spanish bass player. We finally worked out a setting that works for him to hear himself, but not blast the Sanctuary. Your Music Director should be well able to clear this up.
Good luck!

I am a Music Manager as an extra job,so my job is to choose bands,go to their rehearsals to see how they perform ,guide them through and find them places for their shows. In turn,I also sing in a band.
So I am often locked up in those studios where they play. I love it. But a couple of weeks ago,when listening to a new band,the music was soooooo loud that I had to leave the room ( smiling broadly ) to hear the singer’s voice from outside the window in the garden!! And he was good,but the boy who played the drums,outstanding also,must have thought he would always be performing in a football stadium!!
I just love it. But you’ ve got to let them know.,you help them that way.
PS: theses bands perform for free in big recitals to gather money for different humanitarian causes. This is cool really.

 

[Viki63]

Researchers who study hearing loss in the workplace have found that a person who is exposed to noise levels at 85 decibels or higher for a prolonged period of time is at risk for hearing loss. For this reason, these workers are required to wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs, while they are on the job.
Many devices that children use today have noise levels much higher than 85 decibels. For example, an MP3 player at maximum level is roughly 105 decibels. That’s 100 times more intense than 85 decibels! Scientists recommend no more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to sounds that are 100 decibels.** In addition, regular exposure to sounds at 110 decibels for more than one minute risks permanent hearing loss.
**

.

 

[graciew]

Researchers who study hearing loss in the workplace have found that a person who is exposed to noise levels at 85 decibels or higher for a prolonged period of time is at risk for hearing loss. For this reason, these workers are required to wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs, while they are on the job.
Many devices that children use today have noise levels much higher than 85 decibels. For example, an MP3 player at maximum level is roughly 105 decibels. That’s 100 times more intense than 85 decibels! Scientists recommend no more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to sounds that are 100 decibels.** In addition, regular exposure to sounds at 110 decibels for more than one minute risks permanent hearing loss.
**

.

Can you say that a bit louder?

 

[twf]

Electric guitars and drums at all 5 masses? Ouch. Never heard of such a thing. Wouldnt fly in my diocese. Church guidelines on sacred music are very explicit that “profane instruments” are not permitted in the celebration of the holy sacrifice. I know what constitutes a profane instrument is hotly debated, but if electric guitars and drums aren’t profane, what the heck is?
We have 8 weekend masses. At least 4 of them have dedicated choirs (one of which does a lot of Latin polyphony) and at least 3 of them a dedicated organist. They all do wonderful jobs. For the masses without dedicated choirs there is sometimes a cantor or two but If not, the priest simply throws in a little chant or simply reads the mass- with perhaps a spontaneous traditional hymn at the end. I’m with OraLabora - I’ll definitely take a read mass with no music over poor music.
I would definitely speak with the pastor. He may believe that this is the style of music everyone wants.

 

[graciew]

I’ll definitely take a read mass with no music over poor music.
I would definitely speak with the pastor. He may believe that this is the style of music everyone wants.

Kind of hard to believe anybody likes a rock band type for mass…and all 5 masses and loud.

 

[pianistclare]

Kind of hard to believe anybody likes a rock band type for mass…and all 5 masses and loud.

I’ll wager they are willing volunteers.

 

[Eichelbaum]

I’m with OraLabora - I’ll definitely take a read mass with no music over poor music.

I agree.

I think that a problem is that, once upon a time, there was a philosophical understanding as to the objectivity of things like beauty and what makes art good. For Catholics, this was often rooted in St. Thomas.

Today things are utterly subjective, and if something gives a person pleasure they consider it good, or even an experience of God.

Moreover, absent an objective standard, perhaps the taste of the person with the most influence becomes the norm for a parish … inevitably leading to thoughts like those expressed by the OP.

 

[pianistclare]

I agree.

I think that a problem is that, once upon a time, there was a philosophical understanding as to the objectivity of things like beauty and what makes art good. For Catholics, this was often rooted in St. Thomas.

Today things are utterly subjective, and if something gives a person pleasure they consider it good, or even an experience of God.

Moreover, absent an objective standard, perhaps the taste of the person with the most influence becomes the norm for a parish … inevitably leading to thoughts like those expressed by the OP.

Oh yeah, blame it modern things.
It’s about $$$
Truly.
Most parishes can’t afford good musicians and good equipment. It’s the last budget item.
So Priests often rely on volunteers.
Trust me, I know. I’ve been working in parishes for 25 years.
Why pay, when some kid will do it for free?

 

[ProVobis]

I’ll wager they are willing volunteers.

Maybe we can pay them to tone it down a bit, then?

 

[jmjZelie]

I’ll wager they are willing volunteers.

Yes. This is my thoughts exactly. The pastor accepts the best that the willing volunteers have to offer. He is a very old priest, nearly ready to retire. I doubt it is his preference.

The parish does have a choir, and sometimes I am lucky enough to catch a Mass with them performing, and they do a nice job, but the sound system is still up way too high.

 

[pianistclare]

Yes. This is my thoughts exactly. The pastor accepts the best that the willing volunteers have to offer. He is a very old priest, nearly ready to retire. I doubt it is his preference.

The parish does have a choir, and sometimes I am lucky enough to catch a Mass with them performing, and they do a nice job, but the sound system is still up way too high.

Well, if he is elderly, you are right: In that he likely doesn’t think (or realize) it’s too loud because he may be hard of hearing, AND he faces away from the speakers! It just might be an easy fix for the good priest. Hoping that is the case. I’m sure he will just as kindly to you when you talk to him. He’ll appreciate the feedback!

 

[Phemie]

Oh yeah, blame it modern things.
It’s about $$$
Truly.
Most parishes can’t afford good musicians and good equipment. It’s the last budget item.
So Priests often rely on volunteers.
Trust me, I know. I’ve been working in parishes for 25 years.
Why pay, when some kid will do it for free?

I blame it on the fact that nobody who mattered bothered to read the Vatican II documents. If choir directors had read the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and been informed by their Pastors that it was to be taken seriously, we would be singing a different tune, literally.

When I was little (you know, when dinosaurs roamed) the choir sang Gregorian chant and we had an organist & choir director who were volunteers. Not to say there weren’t ever treacly French hymns thrown in, but they were proud of their ability to sing the Ordinary in Latin. In fact, it was chanted by a grade 8 student when we had daily Mass before school. In our small rural parish that was the norm. In fact, probably the norm also in the next parish with a lovely pipe organ.

When Dad, who’d been an altar server there from 1925-52 and again from 1978 until he could no longer navigate the steps to the sanctuary, died, I asked the choir in that same parish where I grew up if we could have some Latin chant at his funeral. I’d have been quite happy with the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei. The response: “The Church doesn’t sing that anymore.”

Strangely enough, while they couldn’t do it for a funeral, they had had no problem with a Latin Sanctus at the Christmas Mass just two weeks before.

 

[pianistclare]

I blame it on the fact that nobody who mattered bothered to read the Vatican II documents. If choir directors had read the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and been informed by their Pastors that it was to be taken seriously, we would be singing a different tune, literally.

When I was little (you know, when dinosaurs roamed) the choir sang Gregorian chant and we had an organist & choir director who were volunteers. Not to say there weren’t ever treacly French hymns thrown in, but they were proud of their ability to sing the Ordinary in Latin. In fact, it was chanted by a grade 8 student when we had daily Mass before school. In our small rural parish that was the norm. In fact, probably the norm also in the next parish with a lovely pipe organ.

When Dad, who’d been an altar server there from 1925-52 and again from 1978 until he could no longer navigate the steps to the sanctuary, died, I asked the choir in that same parish where I grew up if we could have some Latin chant at his funeral. I’d have been quite happy with the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei. The response: “The Church doesn’t sing that anymore.”

Strangely enough, while they couldn’t do it for a funeral, they had had no problem with a Latin Sanctus at the Christmas Mass just two weeks before.

You know, not all choir Directors are idiots.

We can only do what we are told to do by pastors.
The last 3 job interviews a had for a Music Director position I made it clear I knew what I was doing regarding, Liturgy, Chant, timeless Music as well as more Contemporary things. I was degreed in Piano AND Organ.
These parishes were CLEARLY not interested.
They wanted someone who could lead a choir in Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Children, and Contemporary.

So it’s time to stop bashing the musicians.
I’m frankly really tired of it.

I ended up accepting a position as DRE in a Parish just to make a decent wage. At least they acknowledged the Theology degree. They couldn’t care less about the Music Degree.

 

[27lw]

You know, not all choir Directors are idiots.

We can only do what we are told to do by pastors.

Ah. The question is, why do some pastors not allow (or actively discourage) good-quality music?

 

[pianistclare]

Ah. The question is, why do pastors not allow (or actively discourage) good-quality music?

You’d have to ask them.
In my experience, it’s because they believe the laity want something else.
They are afraid the young families won’t tithe.
They’re afraid that kids won’t attend Mass.

None of which has ANYTHING to do with the music.
If anything, it’s the elders who withhold $$$ because they are unhappy.
The young people are not giving in the first place.
Retirees give the most $$ in most parishes, and they “vote” with their checkbooks.

Case in point:
I once worked at a parish where the congregation did not care for the priest.
There was a whole clique of folks who put monopoly money in the baskets, with notes attached: *When you bring us a real priest, we’ll give you real money. *

Tough crowd.