The bells, my God, the bells! Other Topics, posted by Joe, a resident of another community, on Jan 18, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Is anyone else aware of the severely out-of-tune qualities of the recorded bells that emanate several times a day from the Bethany Lutheran Church at Avy and Cloud Avenues?
Bells can be beautiful when they're in tune. What is it about these recordings and/or this speaker system that seems to play havoc with what might otherwise be charming piece of choral music?
Posted by BleedingEars, a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jan 20, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Yes, bells can be beautiful, but even if this unholy contraption at the church were in tune, the fact that its sound is not derived from bells -- it's merely designed to imitate bells -- makes that statement irrelevant. It's a pity that the church folks could think that something of real beauty -- the uplifting, resonant song of bells -- could be replaced with electronically produced noise. And worse, painfully out-of-tune noise.
Posted by Ebara N., a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I agree - the bells are out of tune, synthetic, and a (comparatively) recent addition to the neighborhood a bunch of years ago. No historical or fond memories of these bells.
The neighborhood would be better off without the "bells."
Posted by amused, a resident of the Portola Valley: Ladera neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2008 at 5:08 pm
All of you complainers are just like the morons who buy a house near an airport then complain about the airplane noise. Get over it. The church was there long before you. So shut up or move!
Posted by bell lover, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Amused is right. What could be sooo horrible about chruch bells (simulated or otherwise)? It is not like rap music is blaring! Quit whining people and thank God you live in a place where you don't hear gunshots and screaming...but instead...church bells.
Posted by bell lover, too, a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I'm a big-time bell lover. Problem is, these are not bells. If the church limited the sounding of this electronic noise-maker to an on-the-hour announcement of the time of day, I'd grin and bear it. But instead we're assaulted with a series of out-of-tune tunes at least twice a day. Those of us not afflicted with a tin ear cringe. Stop the noise.
Posted by How about a break, please, a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2008 at 6:04 pm
So ... embarrassingly out-of-tune, unrecognizable selections booming out several times a day, dimly echoing the beautiful tones of actual church bells is a good thing?
How far we have come from the days when bells were bronze, tones were round and full and lovely to contemplate, parishioners used ropes to ring them, and it all was part of the common wealth.
Lacking these amenities, must we also do without fidelity -- as in high fidelity? Are our senses not to be respected? Do we not deserve at least a new set of speakers and a better recording?
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