How balance, contour, symmetry, and complexity predict the perceived emotions in Chinese traditional music

Understanding how musical structure shapes emotion perception remains a central question in music psychology, yet the role of mid-level structural features in Chinese traditional music is underexplored. This study investigated how balance, contour, symmetry, and complexity (BCSC framework) predict perceived emotions in Chinese traditional music using both linear (Lasso-selected multiple regression) and nonlinear (random forest regression) modeling approaches. Analyses included dimensional emotions (valence, arousal) and seven discrete emotions (anger, gentleness, happiness, peacefulness, sadness, solemnness, transcendence).

Linear regressions showed that BCSC features explained 35.1% of variance in valence and 37.1% in arousal. For valence, Total Asymmetry (β = 0.266, p