SV: music and health - discussion group

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I have several times used Bachs " Die Kunst der Fuge " as only treatment in

patients, and have found that Fuge nr. 1 stimulate the Liver, nr. 2 the

Heart, nr. 3 the Spleen , nr. 4 the Lung and nr. 5 the Kidney.

I have also asked musicians to feel where in the body they felt " something "

while listening to the different fuges, and usually they felt " something "

just where I thought they should.

This system I observed during a church consert in Trondheim, Norway.

 

Are

 

Are Simeon Thoresen

arethore <arethore

http://home.online.no/~arethore/

 

 

 

 

-----Opprinnelig melding-----

Fra: Wainwright Churchill [w.churchill_1-]

Sendt: 21. februar 2005 08:25

Til:

Emne: Re: music and health - discussion group

 

 

 

 

Dear Roger,

I write as an acupuncturist/herbalist with 20 years' experience, and was a

classical composer and pianist before taking up CM. As a matter of fact, I

just read your email after practising some of the pieces you mention in your

email!

 

I find your musical taste excellent, and am intrigued by your comments. I

would like to make some points you might like to consider.

 

1) Of course music affects the Qi (in the widest sense of Qi). It's worth

bearing in mind some of the ways language reflects this - 'harmony',

'balance', 'tension', 'resolution', are important considerations in

classical music, and many types of musical expression can be linked to

emotional states, - agitato, amoroso, sospirando (sighing), strepitoso

(noisy, boisterous), tranquillo, suave (gentle, smooth), lamentoso

(mournfully), impetuoso, dolce, appassionata, bravura. Rhythm and dynamics

can obviously affect qi, including harmonic rhythm, not to mention the

interplay between consonance and dissonance.

Needless to say, composers are artists who compose for a reason. Music may

be programmatic, meaning that the composer had 'extra-musical' ideas in mind

when writing the piece. Provocatively, Stravinsky wrote that music doesn't

express anything but itself, which it does most elegantly.

2) The tendency in musicology is to not describe one's subjective responses

to music. (I believe that your analysis and mode of understanding the

Chinese medical effects of music most probably requires interpretation on

the part of the subject.) When studying at university, at first I found this

very stifling - what's the point of not discussing the primary reasons why

one is attracted to, and loves, pieces of music. It's when I had more

exposure to other people's subjective responses that I began to appreciate

the wisdom of abstaining from this type of specificity. We're all different.

Some things are probably better left unanalysed and unexplicated.

3) Certain of your comments are very generalised. For example, Chopin's

Etudes are extremely varied, as indeed are most movements in pieces with

several movements, and within a single movement or piece, there is a great

deal of variation in musical content. Hence, any overall CM value must be

the composite result of something much more complex.

4) As a musician, I would personally think that the ideal is to be

self-motivated when considering what music to listen to at any moment. Going

with and resonating with the flow is probably the best thing. I suspect that

the genre of music is not so important. Great and profound music exists in

all genres. I'm sure there's a place for Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, John

Coltrane, Ravi Shankar, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Doc Watson,

Pygmy music, tangos, etc. in your Musica Medica!

 

Best wishes,

Wainwright Churchill

 

 

-

<rw2

 

Sunday, February 20, 2005 11:03 PM

music and health - discussion group

 

 

 

 

I'm forming a small email discussion group (perhaps no more than 6 people)

to explore the following topic in a systematic manner:

 

Applying TCM patterns of disharmony to attempt understanding why

specific types of music either benefit or aggravate an individual's

health.

 

I need participants who are skilled in doing accurate TCM

herbal-style pattern assessments in order to develop a database that

is useful clinically. If you think you may be interested, please read

on.

 

 

I've been exploring this area for almost 20 years now and decided

that I need to become more systematic in accumulating experiences and

data. Following are a few examples of my experiences:

 

 

Case A: A person with ALS (Lou Gehrig's) disease comes to me for

help. Pattern is Deficiency of Kd-Lv Yin with Blood Stagnation and

Interior Liver Wind. In addition to the usual routine of herbal

formulas, diet changes, and review of environmental health issues

(i.e., high electromagnetic field exposure, believed by some

researchers to be a relevant factor in ALS; heavy metal toxicity), I

happen to put Bach's Cello Suite #1 on the stereo while I mix up

herbs, and within several minutes, muscle fasciculations were noticeably

diminished by 70%. Client normally does not listen to classical

music, but expresses great liking for this piece. (Hypothesis - Bach

Cello Suites useful for relieving Interior Liver Wind and for

benefiting Liver Yin. - other experiences include using this piece to

relieve headache from Interior Wind and Liver Yang Ascending. )

 

Case B: Person with chronic Heart Blood Stagnation plus Liver Qi

Stagnation, otherwise relatively healthy and active. Over many years

I need to give repeated formulas for this condition, like Xue Fu Zhu

Yu Tang. Without these formulas, person eventually succumbs to sharp

chest pains induced by emotional upsets and, interestingly, the sound

of choral music. One day something this person says suggests a

childhood trauma of some type, and I suggest a music listening

session: String Quartet #8 by Shostakovich, which he composed in the

aftermath of the Stalinist purges as a form of personal catharsis.

The music climaxes with discordant wrath and violence, ending in deep

sadness. While listening, client has flashbacks of an incident during

WWII in which friends were murdered by German soldiers, which memory

had been suppressed and forgotten until that moment. Turns out a

local priest was a collaborator with the Germans, thus the aversion

and fear induced by hearing sacred-type choral music. After that

session, client has no longer needed to use Blood-invigorating

formulas, and no longer would the sound of choral music induce chest

tightness and pain, in fact, after that enjoys Bach choral music

immensely. (I'd classify the Shostakovich String Quartet #8 as a

piece that strongly dredges Liver Qi, especially when associated with

suppressed rage.)

 

Case C: Small child has difficulty concentrating at school,

especially with math. In such cases I rarely use herbal formulas,

instead usually do complete diet overhaul and educate parents in

relationship between so-called ADHD and dietary poisons like

aspartame, MSG, sugar, etc. In this case all this helps significantly

with moods and personality, but learning difficulty still remains. I

suggest eliminating all rock music and substituting with Bach and

Mozart when child is at home, especially played quietly as background

music while studying. Parents, being rock fans, are resistant, but

also concerned, so I show them research on the subject. After

changing the diet and the music at home, child quickly discovers that

math is enjoyable.

 

 

For more background information on this subject, here is a brief

literature review with discussion of specific example (Schubert

String Quintet in C) and how the method might apply:

 

http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2002-1.html

Effects of music and sound on human health

 

You may contact me privately if interested in participating in an

email discussion group, and devoting some private time to obtaining

and listening to specific musical pieces, trying them out on friends

and clients. I'll give you much of what I know about the subject in

exchange for some feedback and data from you on a regular basis. You

may need to upgrade your sound system - the preceding article

explains why. I believe that it has only been a few years since sound

reproduction equipment has reached a level of quality that eliminates

artifacts that would otherwise be annoying and even negate many of

the beneficial physiological effects of sound.

 

Roger Wicke <rw2

 

 

 

 

 

==================================================================

 

Archetypal musical compositions that illustrate specific TCM

properties (either as primary or secondary functions):

 

 

--------------

***Purge and Dredge:

 

 

Shostakovich: String Quartet #8

Instruments: string quartet

Recording: Shostakovich, Dmitri: Complete String Quartets /

BMG-Melodiya, c1979-1984, 1997 [6CD]; Borodin Quartet

 

Primary function: Purge and Dredge

2ndary functions: Calm Heart and Spirit

Qualities: allegro, largo, presto; minor mode, contrapuntal, melodic,

harsh dissonances in central mvmts.; sadness, rage, then sadness with

acceptance

Merid./Organ domain: Lv, Ht

 

Functions:

Purges and moves Stagnant Liver Qi associated with rage, possibly

suppressed and associated with fear.

Tonifies Heart Yin and calms Heart and Spirit; beneficial for

insomnia and anxiety associated with Stagnant Liver Qi and repressed

anger.

 

 

 

--------------

***Harmonize and Regulate Qi:

 

 

Bach, J.S.: Flute Sonatas (BVV 1030, 1035, 1034, 1033, 1020, 1031)

Recording: Bach, J.S.: Flute Sonatas / RCA Red Seal, c1995 [1CD];

James Galway, flutist, with viola de gamba and harpsichord

 

Primary function: Harmonize and Regulate Qi

2ndary functions: Nourish Heart and Calm Spirit; Tonify Yin

Qualities: andante/adagio alternating with allegro movements;

harmonious, flowing contrapuntal lines; soothing, graceful

Merid./Organ domain: Lv, Ht

 

Functions:

Harmonizes and regulates Liver Qi; soothes irritability, promotes

ease of movement.

Nourishes Heart and calms Spirit; promotes relaxed alertness.

Tonifies Yin of Liver and Heart.

 

 

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet #23 (KV590) in F

 

Instruments: string quartet

Recording: Mozart, W.A.: Complete String Quartets / Philips,

c1966-1973, 1991 [8CD]; Italian Quartet

 

Primary function: Harmonize and Regulate Qi

2ndary functions: Tonify Qi; Warm Interior

Qualities: allegro outer movements, with an inner adagio; major mode,

lyrical, contrapuntal interplay of instruments on equal basis,

song-like melodies; balanced, graceful, emotional brilliance and

fire, optimistic, sublime

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Lv, Sp

 

Functions:

Tonifies Heart Qi and benefits Spleen; alleviates depression and

lack of joy associated

with Deficiency of Qi and Yang of Spleen and Heart.

Harmonizes Liver and Middle Burner; relieves tension in the solar

plexus associated with Liver Invading Spleen syndrome and with mild

Liver Qi Stagnation.

Warms Interior; especially useful for coldness association with

Stagnation of Qi.

 

 

 

--------------

***Warm Interior:

 

 

Bach, J.S.: Concerto in D minor for 3 harpsichords (BWV1063)

 

Instruments: harpsichords and orchestra

Recording: Bach, J.S.: Concertos for 3 and 4 Harpsichords (plus

Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in B minor for 4 violins) / L'Oiseau-Lyre,

c1981, 1992 [1CD]; Academy of Ancient Music, director Christopher

Hogwood

 

Primary function: Tonify Qi

2ndary functions: Warm Interior; Harmonize and Regulate Qi

Qualities: predominantly brisk tempo (allegro); minor mode; focused

intent, activating, motivating

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Kd, GB

 

Functions:

Tonifies Heart and Kidney Qi; appropriate for enhancing willpower

and mental coordination.

Tonifies Gall Bladder Qi; enhances ability to take command of a

situation.

Harmonizes and regulates Qi of Heart, Kidney, and Gall Bladder;

useful in conditions of dyslexia, mental confusion, left-right

coordination problems.

Warms Interior.

 

 

 

--------------

***Tonify Qi:

 

 

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Trio #5 (Op.70 #1 " Ghost " ) in D

Instruments: piano, violin, cello

Recording: Beethoven, Ludwig van: The Piano Trios / Philips,

c1979-1983 [5CD]; Beaux Arts Trio

 

Primary function: Tonify Qi

2ndary functions: Purge and Dredge

Qualities: allegro, largo, presto; major mode (minor 2nd mvmt.);

argumentative, conflicted, contrasts of gloom and optimism

Merid./Organ domain: Kd, Lv, Ht

 

Functions:

Tonifies Kidney Qi; encourages optimism in the face of the

unknown; useful for Kidneys Not

Grasping Lung Qi aggravated by attacks of fright and anger.

Dredges Liver Qi; releases suppressed fears and frustrations,

oppressive feelings of doom.

 

 

 

--------------

***Tonify Yang:

***Open Orifices:

 

 

Bartók, Béla: Piano Concerto #2

 

Instruments: piano and orchestra

Recording: Bartók, Béla: Piano Concertos #1-3 / Deutsche Grammophon,

c1960, 1995 [1CD]; Geza Anda, pianist; Berlin Radio SO

 

Primary function: Tonify Yang

2ndary functions: Open Orifices; Tonify Qi; Warm Interior

Qualities: allegro-andante-allegro, hard-driving, insistent rhythms,

polyrhythms; lush, dense harmonics, frequent use of octaves and open

5ths, major and minor 7ths, contrapuntal and fugal forms applied to

dissonant sequences; forceful, resolute, persistent, intrepid

Merid./Organ domain: Kd, Ht, Lu

 

Functions:

Tonifies Yang and Qi of Kidneys and Heart; promotes willpower and

determination in overcoming difficult obstacles; may be useful in

hyperactive disorders that accompany Heart not communicating with

Kidneys, if used in a homeopathic sense - in small careful doses.

Open Orifices; awakens the senses, enhances alertness, penetrates

mental fogginess associated with Cold Phlegm disorders.

 

 

 

--------------

***Tonify Yin:

 

 

Chopin, Frederic: The Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes (arr.

Godowski - set A)

 

Instruments: solo piano

Recording: Chopin, Frederic: Godowsky's The Complete Studies On

Chopin's Etudes / Hyperion, c2000 [2CD]; pianist Marc-André Hamelin

 

Primary function: Tonify Yin

2ndary functions: ---

Qualities: brisk tempi, flowing rhythms like wave motion; arpeggios,

scale runs, and rapid

sequences of block chords, wth sustaining pedal, frequent use of 7th

chords; exuberant, romantic, ethereal

Merid./Organ domain: Kd

 

Functions:

Tonifies Kidney Yin; promotes relaxation of both muscle tension

and mental stress.

(See Deficiency of Kidney Yin.)

 

Special instructions: Choose only a few etudes for each listening

session. Cramming too much

into one session may lead to Yin Excess - even the recording pianist

Marc Hamelin hints that

such might be considered " gluttonous " . (Just as too much Rx

Rehmanniae may lead to overfullness and Stagnation.)

 

 

 

--------------

***Connect Heart and Kidneys:

 

 

Schubert: String Quintet in C

Instruments: string quintet

Schubert, Franz: Late Quartets and Quintet D956 / Deutsche

Grammophon, c1988, 1990 [3CD]; Emerson Quartet, cellist Mstislav

Rostropovich

 

Primary function: Connect Heart and Kidneys

2ndary functions: Tonify Qi; Tonify Yang

Qualities: allegro, adagio, scherzo, allegretto; song-like melodies

alternating with driving percussive rhythms, exotic sound-coloration

effects with sparing use of dissonance; restless, driving, inspiring,

intrepid

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Kd

 

Functions:

Reconnects and harmonizes Heart and Kidneys; resolves conflict of

will and emotions.

Tonifies Qi and Yang of Kidney and Heart; intensely motivating.

 

 

 

--------------

***Astringe:

 

 

Tallis, Thomas: Spem in alium

 

Instruments: a cappella choir

Recording: The Best Of The Renaissance (works by Allegri, Tallis,

Byrd, Desprez, Lobo, Gesualdo,

Palestrina, di Lasso, Desprez, Taverner, Cardoso) / Philips,

c1980-1994 [1CD]; The Tallis Scholars, conductor Peter Phillips

 

Primary function: Nourish Heart and Calm Spirit

2ndary functions: Tonify Qi; Astringe

Qualities: moderate tempo, regular, pulsing rhythm; lush and dense

triadic harmonies; meditative, energizing

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Sp

 

Functions:

Nourishes Heart, calms and sedates Spirit.

Tonifies Heart Qi and strengthens Middle Burner.

Astringes Heart.

 

 

 

--------------

***Sedate Spirit:

***Nourish Heart and Calm Spirit:

 

 

Allegri, Gregorio: Miserere

 

Instruments: a cappella choir

Recording: Allegri, Gregorio: Miserere; Palestrina, Giovanni: Missa

Papae Marcelli; Mundy, William: Vox Patris caelestis / Gimell, c1980,

1990 [1CD]; The Tallis Scholars, conductor Peter Phillips

 

Primary function: Nourish Heart and Calm Spirit

2ndary functions: Tonify Yin; Sedate Spirit; Astringe

Qualities: slow, relaxed tempo; hypnotic, ethereal

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Sp

 

Functions:

Nourishes Heart, calms and sedates Spirit.

Tonifies Heart Yin and strengthens Spleen.

Astringes Heart Yin.

 

 

 

 

--------------

***Extinguish Internal Wind:

 

 

Bach, J.S.: Cello Suites #1-6 (BWV1007-1012)

 

Instruments: solo cello

Duration: 147:27 (approx. 25 min. per suite)

Recording: Bach, J.S.: Cello Suites #1-6 / EMI Classics, c1995

(recorded 1991) [2CD]; Mstislav Rostropovich

 

Primary function: Harmonize and Regulate Qi

2ndary functions: Extinguish Internal Wind; Tonify Yin; Nourish Heart

and Calm Spirit

Qualities: slow (andante) to somewhat rapid (allegretto) tempo; fugal

counterpoint;

even-tempered, balanced, introspective, gentle rocking motion

Merid./Organ domain: Ht, Lv, Kd

 

Functions:

Harmonizes and regulates Qi; promotes neuromuscular coordination

and relaxation,

greater efficiency of movement.

Extinguishes Interior Liver Wind; relieves muscle spasms, tremors,

and convulsions.

Tonifies Yin of Liver and Kidney.

Nourishes Heart and calms Spirit.

 

 

 

---Roger Wicke, PhD, TCM Clinical Herbalist

contact: www.rmhiherbal.org/contact/

Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs, Montana USA

Clinical herbology training programs - www.rmhiherbal.org

 

 

 

 

 

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