Impact of diverse genres of sacred music on the Revitalising Soundscape of Mission Concepcion Church in San Antonio, Texas

A study on Mission Concepción Church, part of the UNESCO-listed San Antonio Missions, reveals that different genres of sacred music significantly impact auditory perceptions such as loudness, sharpness, tonality, clarity, and intimacy. The saxophone rendition was perceived as the 'loudest,' 'clearest,' 'most tonal,' and 'most intimate' at the President’s Window, while solo-voice renditions evoked a sense of 'stillness' at the Nave (p = 0.07). These findings suggest that specific musical genres can enhance the sensory experience in historic worship spaces, contributing to efforts to revitalize the soundscape for tourists seeking a sacred experience.

Tavares, M. A., Bray, W. R., & Simmons, R. (2025). Impact of diverse genres of sacred music on the Revitalising Soundscape of Mission Concepcion Church in San Antonio, Texas. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 157(4_Supplement), A338–A339. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0038274