Carols in the wind.

AIM: To compare mood and emotional responses to music played on pipe organs and pipeless (digital) organs.

DESIGN

A two-organ (pipe v. digital) crossover study.

SETTING

St Theodore's Anglican Church, Adelaide.

SUBJECTS: 43 non-musician volunteers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in mood and emotions measured by the Profile of Mood States.

RESULTS

Both instruments produced significant reductions in the emotions commonly experienced during the Christmas season: tension-anxiety, depression-rejection, anger-hostility and fatigue. There were no significant changes for vigour or confusion-bewilderment, and no significant differences between the mood-altering effects of the two instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

Pipeless organs are as effective as pipe organs in inducing beneficial mood changes.