From Measurement to Music: Reviving the Acoustic Heritage of St. Michael’s Church, Coventry, UK

Ali-MacLachlan, Islah and Roberts, Helen and West, Benjamin and Hall, Simon and Savan, Jamie (2025) From Measurement to Music: Reviving the Acoustic Heritage of St. Michael’s Church, Coventry, UK. In: Forum Acusticum Euronoise 202, 23rd-26th June 2025, Malaga, Spain. (In Press)

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Abstract

This paper presents findings from the Aural Histories project, which explores how music was experienced in historical ecclesiastical spaces through acoustic modelling and auralisation. Focusing on St Michael’s Church, Coventry, UK, digital reconstructions of the building as it may have stood in 1451 and 1617 were created using archival and typological evidence, and analysed using Odeon software. Simulations suggest that architectural changes between these dates had only minor impact on acoustic conditions in the chancel, with reverberation and clarity metrics remaining consistent. To support auralisation, recordings of an eight voice choir performing Tallis’s Why Fum’th in Fight were captured in both studio and anechoic settings. Spectral and cepstral analyses revealed minimal differences between the two, particularly in mid and high frequencies. Expert listening tests showed no statistically significant perceptual differences between auralisations using either source supporting the practical use of studio recordings in virtual acoustic reconstructions. Future work will explore additional repertoire and conduct further perceptual testing in immersive environments such as the Birmingham SoundLab® to assess the impact of recording choices on spatial perception and listener experience.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Dates:	Date Event 23 June 2025 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	auralisation, church acoustics, historical reconstruction, perceptual listening tests
Subjects:	CAH11 - computing > CAH11-01 - computing > CAH11-01-01 - computer science CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-02 - performing arts > CAH25-02-02 - music
Divisions:	Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering > Computer Science Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering > Engineering Royal Birmingham Conservatoire > Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Music
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2025 12:31
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2025 12:31
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16671

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