OCR Text |
Show j Expounds Therapeutic ! Importance of Music Music's power as a healing art was ibly and enthusiastically discussed by Mrs. J. Louis Suohauer, who delivered m address Tuesday .afternoon at the meeting of the music section of the Ladies' Literary club. Mrs. Strohauer proved her stand by history, philosophy md the deductions of many geniuses. In part, she said: It is said that the marvelous progress prog-ress of the p-ist century in the domain do-main cf physical science and invention inven-tion hns added more to The store of ma n's knowledge than all efforts in the same realm during the preceding 1000 years, and one who ia not quite as conservative says that more has been accomplished along these linea in the last forty years than during the preceding 2000 years. One of the newest and one of the most promising, promis-ing, and surely one of the most Important Im-portant innovations, is the utilization of music in the healing art. We all -know that music wields a greater influence in-fluence over man than any other art, and the reason for this the scientific reason is a most interesting study. When w e know something of the "mental effect of tone," the ''mental effect of color," "the relation of tone to color," "the therapeutic value of music," etc., then we can better understand un-derstand that "In soul music has its origin nnd that it is to the soul of man that ir appeals." Of Ancient Lineage. The effect of music or the "subtle virtue" of music is no new discovery, discov-ery, but it seems to have been one of the "lost arts." Not until XS07 was the music cure (sometimes called the chord cure) movement revived. Still, all ancient nations lecognized. the power of music and recognized ita value as a curative agent. The Hebrews He-brews and Persians were known to have cured various diseases by the pound of a corresponding string on The lute.' Pythagoras brought forth the thought that music contributes greatly to health. Shakespeare has much to say in its behalf as a restorative re-storative force. King Lear is relieved re-lieved of his madness. Prospero calls "a solemn air. the best comforter to an unsettled fancy." Agaii he says: "In sweet musfc is such art, killing care and grief of heart." The effect of music upon the mind Is generally recognized as being beneficial, bene-ficial, in that it awakens emotions, soothes and stimulates centers of thought and feeling until the entire being, be-ing, which has been weighed down by .he thought of pain, disease or grief. Is lifted into a higher, freer, independent inde-pendent state. We should remember that every tone we hear and every color we see has its effect upon us either to stimulate or depress. We hear a piece of music. We do not rea lize perhaps that It has left its imprint. The extent to which muslo affects us depends largely upon one's sensitiveness tb musical Impression. In proportion to our power of discrimination dis-crimination will be the amount of benefit we wlU derive. Problem Still Big. The Increased study of psychology Jb bringing us into closer contact with the laws of nature and is giving giv-ing us a better understanding of those "subtle forces" which control life, but the extent of physical benefit bene-fit to be derived from tone and color has not been sufficiently investigated as yet, by either musician or scientist, scien-tist, to give us even a glimpse of what msjy be accomplished along these lines in the future. In considering the effect of tons end color, let us not pause on the material plane. The real origin of man'a key-note is back of the larynx, back even of vibration. The music we make comes from within. To my mlri. our key-note Is, tio doubt, Identical In pitch with one of the tone centers In God's universal system sys-tem of keys. In other words, harmony har-mony Is obtained only so far as we are "in tune with the Infinite." The 8 rt of music Is not man's creation. "The power to charm, uplift and heal depends upon a source above and beyond be-yond any human conception, and any attempt to place music merely upon the plane of vibration tends to lower and beliltle the art whose grandeur and glory ever constitute an upward drawing force, harmonizing and spiritualizing spir-itualizing discordant humanity." Browning has a fine appreciation of the spirit of music. In comparing compar-ing poetry, painting and music, be fiays of music: "But here is the finger of God, a flash of the will that can; Existent behind all laws: that made them, and to, they are; And I know not If. save In this, such gift be allowed to man, That out of three rounds he form not a fourth sound, but a star. Consider it well ; each tone of our soul In Itself is nought; It la everywhere in the world; loud, soft, and all is said.-And said.-And there Ye have hoard and seen. Consider and bow the head. Browning ia one of the few poets who has comprehended and fitly expressed ex-pressed the higher, the more subtle, the diviner significance of music. He ficeins to be the only one who appreciates appre-ciates our "individual key-note." Of this, he says: 'T feel for the common chord again, Sliding by semi-tones till I aink to the minor; yes, And I blunt It with a ninth, and I stand on alien ground Purveying awhile the heights I rolled from into the deep; Which, hark 1 have dared and done, for my resting place Is found," The C major of this life; eo, I will try to sleep." Universal in Potency. Musio penetrates every nook and cranny of our being. It thrills every liber, it floods every cell, and touching touch-ing the snrings of the soul, frees It inm bondage. Thorough and systematic training has become essential to nil branches of study, and the study of music should not be an exception. One may even know every phase of a subject from tlie standpoint of acquisition, yet without special training in the art of teaching lie Is unable to present pre-sent his ideas in a systematic and logical manner. For this reason we often see fine musicians who aro perfect per-fect failures ns teachers. Thr quickest quick-est and surest anil most logical solution solu-tion lo the problem would be to require re-quire every teacher to pass through an examination in the pedagogy of his subject before he he allowed to even try to impart his knowledge upon others. This method has been a s-iccess in some details and I am looking forward to the time when Utah will adopt It. If music is rhythm and music is ;ilsn 3 manifestation of vibration, may we not think of rhythm as regular regu-lar vihrntionV Rhythm has also been t raced to mnpruhi r contract ion a nil relaxation. It is clear, then, that yny amount of slng'ng sontis, vocalizing, playing scales or Icehnual exercises at tho piano will not bring into use or will not contract and relax the muscles of the entire body. Pulse, rhyt Inn and ruba to come f mm wit bin and the innb'lhy to develop them Is the fa "hp of about S5 per cent of 1h 1'aii'MVs. There is a way, however, how-ever, that rhythm mav be devo. ;iorl. bttL it nuiM bo studied away from the piano and it must be done scientifically. scien-tifically. The old saying that "we get out of a thing just what we put into it" applies to our music study. If we would get from music the very best it has to offer, we must put something some-thing into ft or we must give something some-thing In return, and that something is plenty of application, all the mentality men-tality at our command, and as correct cor-rect a method as we can find. Martin Luther was right when he said: "Music is a fair and glorious gift from God; I would not for the world renounce my humble share in It." |