Soundscape and worship experience of contemporary worship music: A case study in Malaysia

This study investigated sound levels and congregants' experiences of contemporary worship music (CWM) with a sound reinforcement system in a church in Malaysia using convergent mixed methods. The methods involved sound level measurements of 4 music worship sessions, a questionnaire with 86 respondents, and semi-structured interviews with 8 informants. The average sound level (LAeq) measured was 85.8 dB, and 66.3% of the participants perceived the sound levels as loud and 54.6% as harmful to hearing. Significant correlations existed between perceived sound levels (PSL) and perceived importance of aural health. Overall music worship experience can be predicted by PSL, ISO Pleasantness (ISO 12913), and the ability to hear one's own singing, which together explain 39.1% of the variance. PSL, the ability to sing along, and the ability to hear oneself/others sing significantly correlated with the overall music worship experience. Congregants' experiences differ, with some engaged, while others compromised or felt detached from the soundscape. Contextual factors such as perceived control, ability to participate, and socio-cultural values affect soundscape perception and worship experience. Apart from improving soundscape quality, the study recommends raising awareness of auditory health and recognizing different values and needs towards a more engaging CWM experience.