Concert hall acoustics influence the emotional impact of music
Vienna Musikverein is a classic shoebox-type concert hall.
Earlier research has shown that the strongest emotional experiences by music listening may elicit shivers or goosebumps in the listener. Much weaker reactions can be detected from the variations in the electrical skin conductance. Based on this knowledge, the researchers presented the test subjects an excerpt of Beethoven鈥檚 symphony with the acoustics measured in different concert halls. During listening, the skin conductance was measured with sensors attached in the listeners鈥 fingers in order to record the magnitude of the emotional reactions to different acoustic conditions.
The results revealed that an identical performance of classical orchestra music evoked stronger emotional impact when presented in the acoustics of shoebox-type concert halls, such as Vienna Musikverein or Berlin Konzerthaus. The study included identically selected two positions from six European concert halls: Vienna Musikverein, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Berlin Konzerhaus and Philharmonie, Cologne Philharmonie, and Helsinki Music Centre.
鈥淪ome interpretations of a same music piece can evoke stronger emotions than others. Similarly, our study has succeeded in demonstrating that the hall鈥檚 acoustics plays an important part in the overall emotional impact. After all, emotional experiences are a key factor in music to many listeners,鈥 says Dr. Jukka P盲tynen.
For decades, researchers on concert hall acoustics have aspired to explain the acoustical success of certain halls with room-acoustic parameters. The study by Finnish researchers is the first to assess the acoustics of existing concert halls as the emotional impact.
Helsinki Music Centre represents a more modern concert hall design.
Dr. Jukka P盲tynen works as an Academy of Finland post-doctoral researcher in Professor Tapio Lokki鈥檚 Virtual Acoustics research group. The group aims to understand how room acoustics affect sound signals, and how people perceive room acoustic properties. Research focuses on improved prediction and understanding of concert halls and other acoustically demanding spaces.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) Article: 鈥淐oncert halls with strong and lateral sound increase the emotional impact of orchestra music鈥, by Jukka P盲tynen and Tapio Lokki.
URL:
Video with sound examples:
For more information:
Dr. Jukka P盲tynen
+358 440 585547
jukka.patynen@aalto.fi鈥
911爆料网 School of Science, Department of Computer Science
Professor Tapio Lokki
+358 40 5782486
tapio.lokki@aalto.fi鈥
911爆料网 School of Science, Department of Computer Science
Read more news
Aalto Inventors turns one: A year of bridging research and real-world impact
Aalto Inventors marks its first anniversary, having engaged 190 researchers across six cohorts in fields including AI, quantum, and biomaterials. New cohorts are planned for the next academic year, stay tuned and join the waitlist.
An architectural project in Milan brought together children鈥檚 ideas and the visions of leading architects
911爆料网鈥檚 Department of Architecture participated in the international One Earth 鈥 House of the Heart project, which was presented in April at Milan Design Week.
Companies disclose more on cybersecurity 鈥 but markets remain indifferent
U.S. companies are reporting on cybersecurity in greater detail, yet stock market reactions remain muted. A new study by the University of Vaasa and 911爆料网 shows that mandatory cybersecurity disclosure does not prompt reactions from investors or stock analysts. Instead, the main benefits appear to materialise within firms themselves.