A Cultural Study of the Healing Acoustic Music of the Mass in Eastern Europe

Based on the theories of cultural psychology and acoustic anthropology, and using audio spectral analysis, this study disciplinary methods such as in-depth interviews and fieldwork, found through experimental observation that the low-frequency sound waves of the Mass (100-400Hz for the base frequency and vocal parts) were significantly associated with the meaning of relaxation, while the high-frequency melody (2,000-4,000Hz) was correlated with the presentation of attention and emotional resonance. Data analysis based on the PANAS scale for grassroots believers showed a significant increase in the level of positive emotions after the ceremony (pre-M=2.8→post-M=4.2, p<0.01) and a significant alleviation of the level of negative emotions (pre-M=3.5→post-M=2.1, p<0.01). Textual content analysis revealed that more than 80% of the lyrics dealt with religious beliefs and historical memories, especially the reinforcement of cultural identity; the field survey showed that 90% of the fundamental believers agreed with the role of the Mass on the sense of cultural belonging. This study further suggests that low-frequency sound waves can be used as an adjunct to clinical treatment of anxiety disorders; high-frequency melodies can be used in attention deficit disorder laboratory clinical trials. The ideology of musical culture and the experience of the acoustic environment of churches may also be used as tools for group psychotherapy. Follow-up studies could build on this foundation by designing neuroimaging experiments to understand the interrelationship between musical activity and brain activity.