In her book Music Medicine, therapist Christine Stevens writes of a disabled boy who can only drag his leg. He hears the beats of the drums, then starts to dance, only to have his leg return to its former place, when the music stops. If you’ve used every other avenue to feel better, try music!
Scripture Lullabies (US) produces digital albums to download or gift to others. Founded by a Christian musician, all albums are perfect to play in the background or help you sleep. The company also sells wholesale (the music is used for online online Christian yoga classes at Ruah Space. Relaxing piano music has the power to relax, and even reduce nightmares. It’s also ideal for people with illness, trauma or grief – the background Scripture gives comfort to people of faith.
Music thanaology uses unique voice and harp compostitions to help dying patients transition – observing vital signs like heart rate, breathing and temperature. This can bring peace to those nearing the end of life, helping to relieve pain, restlessness, insomnia and laboured breathing. It can also help relieve emotions like anger and fear. Harps of Comfort (US) offers free downloads and more information on how they helped isolated patients during the pandemic. Their team includes ministers, doctors and thanatologists who work in trauma centres and hospice care (one wrote the book Music at the End of Life).
Why harps? More portable than a piano, the strings have ideal resonance and ‘taper off’ to silence, so they are relaxing to listn to (that’s why Angels play them!) However, Angels would not be happy with many being made from animal gut. Sipario Harp Strings are made from sugar-cane-derived bioplastic for wonderful acoustics (and less moisture absorption).
Not everyone wants music at end of life. Some just want peace. Pipedown is helping to stop detested piped music in stores and supermarkets, and now moving the campaign to hospitals, where bedridden patients have no escape from loud thumping music and shouting DJs (not the same as hospital radio that provides an essential community service, with people free to listen with headphones, if wished). Hospitals are to rest and experience silence, away from the causes of heart attacks and ulcers.
The same with shops. ‘Acoustic pollution’ is detested by millions, with some restaurants playing piped music as you tinkle in the loo! An older person does not want Co-op blasting loud music, when they buy a loaf of bread (it also makes it difficult for people with hearing difficulties to hear conversations). One reason why many people shop at Lid is not just because it’s cheap – but there’s no piped music!
Solfeggio frequencies are based on the ancient musical scale (six pure tones) that are so powerful that legend has it that the Vatican altered them, to retain power over parishioners. If you’ve ever visited evening Vespers to hear Gregorian chants of Catholic monks, you’ll know you go into a different world. They also reduce the heart rate and blood pressure, and even help patients feel calmer at the dentist! Yet Mozart (a child genius) could not measure frequency, as the equipment was not created until the late 19th century (by someone who discovered electromagnetic waves and helped to invent the radio). Listen to Solfeggio frequencies online to help let go of guilt, reduce stress, balance relationships (listen to this for an hour and see what happens) and solve problems.
Music Break: Ancora
Ludovico Einaudi is the world’s most downstreamed classical artist (his influences include Eminem!) Grandson of a former Italian President, fortunately for us he chose music, studying at a music conservatory in Milan. Many people who don’t even care for classical music as a rule, say their lives have been changed by this composition: give it a go!
