THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC

"Music chases away hatred among those who do not love. It gives them peace
to those who have no peace and comforts those who weep."

(Pablo Casals, cellist)

The harmonious and divinely inspired music touches the heartstrings... The first kiss of love, the first walk under the moonlight, the first embrace given with all the soul have, each, their own music and the power to awaken all kinds of beneficial emotions. Shortly after we start listening to music, our brains go into overdrive: almost all areas of the cerebral cortex are activated simultaneously in just three seconds. But that's not all: our blood pressure changes and our facial muscles are stimulated without us realising it. All human beings react in the same way, regardless of where they come from and what culture they come from. This fact is certain, music has an immense power over us... and not since yesterday-today!

MUSIC THERAPY, AN ANCIENT ART OF HEALING

Music therapy is a science that dates back to ancient antiquity, to be precise, to biblical times. Thus, King David is said to have played his harp to-cures King Saul of depression. Later, among the ancient Greeks, the link between music and healing was illustrated by the god Apollo, patron of musicians and healers, and the sage Pythagoras. These two fields were then considered to be inextricably linked... Much further east, in China, music therapy has also been around for a very long time: there they even use a range of specific sounds to maintain the health of each organ. However, we had to wait until the middle of the last century for the profession of music therapist to be officially recognised, based on statistics that proved its effectiveness. But it has already been proven by-over the centuries, according to the testimony of numerous scholars and scholars...

THE UTTERLY EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWER OF MUSIC

Although some may find it hard to believe, music is being used to cure real diseases, such as Alzheimer's. In fact, it enables partial memory recovery by reactivating memories, and improves spatial orientation. It also has a relaxing effect on patients. Moreover, it may have an effect on the production of certain proteins... Music is also used in the field of rehabilitation and reeducation. For example, playing the piano requires synchronisation of the two hands, which leads to an improved connection between the two hemispheres of the brain.

MUSIC AND THE FEEL-GOOD EMOTIONS

Music leaves no one indifferent. It can generate intense and deep emotions and also change our mood and perception of reality. Today, this 'magical power' of music is used extensively in the audio-visual field.of the visual, to allow us to "dive" into other worlds that are entirely virtual. It conditions our emotions: if it is threatening, it increases our adrenaline. If its pace is fast, our heartbeat quickens to match it. If it is soft and calm, it has a calming effect.

BRILLIANT AND DIVINELY INSPIRED MUSIC MAKES US MORE INTELLIGENT, THANKS TO THE PROCESSES OF OCCULT RESONANCE THAT TRIGGER

But then, if our intelligence develops in contact with music, does that mean that music makes us smarter? Well, yes! S-has actually demonstrated that listening to music has quite spectacular beneficial effects. A study was carried out on children aged between four and six: some learned music, others did not. The study showed that, in the long run, the musicians had better memory and better language, maths and literacy skills! Therefore, simply listening to music can have an effect on our health, our intelligence and also our morale.

THE AMAZING EFFECTS OF MOZART'S MUSIC ON THE BRAIN

According to a new study, s-found an increase in brain activity associated with memory, comprehension and problem solving in those who listened to Mozart's music. Researchers at Sapienza University in Rome say the results of the study show that Mozart's music can activate cortical neural circuits associated with cognitive and concentration functions. However, not all music can produce these effects, only harmonious music.

In this study, which was published in the journal "Consciousness and Cognition", the researchers used electroencephalographs to record the electrical brain activity of the participants.

Participants were divided into three groups: ten healthy young adults with an average age of 33 years (group A), ten healthy older adults with an average age of 85 years (group B) and ten mildly cognitively impaired older adults with an average age of 77 years (group C). Data were recorded before and after the groups listened to "Allegro with spirit" from Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D major K448, as well as before and after listening to the "Für Elise"by Ludwig van Beethoven.

"Results recorded after listening to Mozart's compositions showed, in both adults and healthy elderly, an increase in alpha waves and mid frequencies characteristic of brain activity associated with IQ, memory, cognition and problem solving," the researchers say. They add that the EEG showed no changes in these groups after listening to Beethoven's music.

According to scientists, the data recorded by the EEG is clearly the result of the beneficial influence of Mozart's sonata.

"Preliminary results allow us to hypothesize that Mozart's music is able to excite neural circuits associated with cognition and attention functions not only in young but also in healthy elderly people," say the researchers. They believe that the sonata's rational and organized composition echoes in the cerebral cortex (the part of the brain responsible for complex mental functions): "A characteristic of Mozart's music is the frequent repetition of the melodic line. This eliminates elements of surprise that might distract the listener from the logic of the music. Each melodic element is resolved ina way that confirms the listener's expectations," the researchers point out. An earlier study, published in 1993, found that listening to Mozart's composition can briefly improve spatial reasoning.

MUSIC AND THE INSIDIOUS MANIPULATION OF HUMAN BEINGS

At the same time it is necessary to know: we live in aa world in which some do not hesitate to take advantage of the wonderful qualities of music to influence our behaviour in the way they want! Thus, ina supermarketFor example, the music played has been carefully chosen to influence customer behaviour. For example, when shopping is to be increased, familiar slower-paced songs are played. But when it's time to close the shop, insidiously, faster-paced music is played to encourage the remaining customers to hurry. In the same way, advertisers are very careful about the music they use: they know that this is the key to successful advertising.

SOME INSPIRING APHORISMS ABOUT MUSIC

"Music is a remedy for the soul." Anonymous

"In my opinion, music amplifies the good feelings." Jacques Demy

"Music is infinite. It is the language of the soul." Otto Klemperer

"Music is the language of emotions." Immanuel Kant

"Music is worth all the philosophies in the world." Ludwig van Beethoven

"Music puts the soul in harmony with all that exists." Oscar Wilde

"Music is the sound that thinks." Victor Hugo

"Without music, life would be full of mistakes." Friedrich Nietzsche

"The vessel gives shape to space, and music gives shape to silence." Georges Braque

"Music gives soul to our hearts and wings to our thoughts." Plato

"Music is the only sensual pleasure without vice." Samuel Johnson

"Good music doesn't make mistakes, it goes straight to the depths of the soul, soothing the suffering that devours us." Stendhal

"Music first." Paul Verlaine

"Music is a greater revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." Ludwig van Beethoven

"Music is the only language that is universal." Anonymous

"After silence, the closest way to express the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley

"We don't sell music. We share it." Leonard Bernstein

"Music begins where the power of words stops." Richard Wagner