Characterizing Acoustical Quietness in Goa's Reverberant Se' Cathedral

In some large churches, reverberance blends with low noise ambience to create a perception of acoustical quietness. The results presented here are a part of a study, in compliance with ISO - 3382 standards, on the reverberant yet quiet Se' Cathedral in Goa ( volume= 1745116 ft2; T60NAVE &_sim; 6s; T60SANCTUARY &_sim; 2s; LAeq = 40 dB). A multi-regression on the measured T60 values in the sanctuary of the church reveals positive correlation of T60 with EDT and C80 and negative correlation with D50 and TS (R2 = 0.63; p < 0.01); The nave of the church shows positive correlation of T60 with EDT and D50 and negative correlation with C80 and TS (R 2 = 0.92; p < 0.01). Reverberation is found to support clarity of music in the sanctuary and definition of speech in the nave of the church. This positive impact of Reverberation on clarity and intelligibility in a low-noise ambience induces soothing acoustical quietness in the reverberant Se Cathedral. These findings in detailed octave analysis mode inspire positive appreciation of 'liveness' in a worship space and enable a design of a functional sound reinforcement system for active liturgical celebration in the church.