Sound and Music : Its Impact on Lives

Music is a language of emotions. It influences all levels of human existence. It is a medium for communication. It is a universal language. Music and words to arouse mood, feelings and emotions in a person and those can be positive or negative. The positive emotions are joy, love, romance, patriotic feeling, happiness, soothing, spirituality, trance and divinity etc. Music is capable of improving happiness, peace, health and concentration. Music can give pleasant as well as healing experiences. Negative feelings and emotions of anger, hatred and prejudice too can be created which is harm full and evil. In fact, music is assumed as the language of the soul which unites man to God.

Sound, A particular auditory effect produced by a certain cause. Fish, Birds, Animals and Human have air sacs, birds have syrinx, and human contains lyrinx and vocal chords to generate Sound. But usually animal, fish, birds use sound for communication, warning signal, navigation, making territory etc. but perhaps not for entertainment, moods, emotions or feelings, where as human does it for. Natural sound such as wind blow through trees, bamboo, flowing or falling water, sea waves, thundering clods etc. are liked by most people. We know that there are some ultra sonic sounds that human cannot be able to hear. Here the most important thing is all music is sound but all sound is not music. Now the question arises, when Sounds become Music? Or when Music sounds healthy? Sound is created by many but music is created by man through his voice, whistling and his invented musical instruments only. Music is organized sound having some pattern and order with or without rhythm and words within certain balanced frequencies.

There are three main components of music namely sound, rhythm and words. Though all music is created by 12 notes or 22 Shrutis we may like or may not like all types of music. Thus the phenomenon of music is purely subjective. What is music to one can be sound of noise or an irritant to another. There are infinite types of music can be created, copied, adopted or plagiarized and we classify them in to different Genres, such as Classical, Folk, Sufi, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Disco, R & B, Hip-hop, Country (Western folk) etc. Day by day various other new genres are also been developing and improvising all over the world.

In India, from the early ages it is believed that rendering ‘Slokas’ with correct pronunciation bring beneficial changes in the environment and atmosphere. If we look back to the history of Indian music, mostly found in Veda; Saamveda the prime book that consist sangeet in the form of sloka. At the time of vedic period sangeet was chanted in the form of slokas and basically which were devoted towards God. The sangeet was known as “Margiya Sangeet”in the form of sloka in that period. The seven “Swars” that are described as “Udatta” (Ga, Ni), “Anudatta”(Re, Dha) and “Swarita”(Sa, Ma, Pa). The mantras are slokas that were chanted known as “Gandharba Veda” which is a sub Veda of Saamveda.

          During 4^th century B.C we see Bharat’s “Natyashastra” is a foremost and illustrated book on sangeet, briefly perceives about “Margiya Sangeet” and “Hindustani sangeet”. This book gives a brief description about the Natya, nritya and about the “Anga” and “Upanga” etc. In 24^th chapter of the book says-

                        “Geetan, Vadyam, Nrityam trayam sangeetamurchyate”

            That is vocal, instrument and dance as a whole, all three together is called Sangeet. Some different valuable books written on sangeet during the period,

Such as –

a.     “Sangeet Ratnakar” by Sarangadeva

b.     “Sangeet Makaranda” by Nanada

c.      “Geet Govinda” by Jaydeva etc.

In the 14^th century B.C Pandit Sarangadeva had changed the Indian Vedic sangeet in to a disciplinary process, “Swars” and “Shrutis” were created during the same period. In Assam, The great saint, Guru Mahapurush Shree Shankar Deva also had created a different type of margiya sangeet which were devoted towards God and basically based upon some ancient Hindustani ragas. The pattern of the sangeet called “Sattriya” and vocals are named as “Borgeet”. He used music to restore unity among people and for the moral development of the society as a whole.

The modern sangeet can be divided into two parts- “Karnataki” and “Hindustani” pattern. Both the patterns have various similarities and dissimilarities as well.

Here these are all about sound and music. Now come to the point- ‘The effectiveness of music’. How music can be a universal language or how it can be said as medium of communication. Yes, as per my studies and opinion playing on an instrument or any vocal melody or any Indian raga can be a fruitful healing music. Most of the great musicians, the scientist and some renowned doctors of the world developing the concept about ‘the music for live and life’ of the human being.

Origins of music therapy:

* Using music as an aid to healing and for maintaining well-being has been

Recorded for over 2000 years

*‘Music therapy’ as a profession has been established relatively recently, since the mid 20^th century.

*Music Therapy, the profession has been state registered since 1996 before they can start working

*Music therapists do not necessarily need to have a music degree before

Training but do need to have a high level of skill in playing music

Who is music therapy for?

Music therapists work with children and adults of all ages and with different types of difficulties:

*Adolescent (outside of school/education system)

*Learning Disabilities

*Mental Health

*Forensic

*Prison

*Hospice

*Neurology

*HIV/AIDS

*Addiction

*Challenging Behavior

*Autism

*Communication Disorders

*Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties

*Epilepsy

*Normal Neurotic

*Stress Management

*Eating Disorders

*Sexual Abuse

*Music Therapy Students (personal therapy)

*Student Training (placement/teaching)

*Music therapy is also increasingly being sought by people who may not   have specific difficulties but who would like to gain insight into themselves and their ways of relating to others.

The great musicians, scientist and the renowned doctors are studying and trying since a couple of years to give music a therapeutic value. Now a days “The Raga research center” in Chennai is making a comprehensive study of Indian ragas and evaluating their therapeutic potential with the help of musicians, doctors and psychiatrist. After a Long research and study it is proved that the human disease like Insomnia, high/low blood pressure, schizophrenia, epilepsy, cancer, authorities, or any anxiety etc. can be cured with the use of different music. It is however important to know the method and duration for which music therapy is to be administered. This knowledge can be obtained through regular experiments and experiences. The correct diagnosis of the disease and then the selection of the precise raga or the music will be help full.

Here are some examples of Indian effective ragas-

Ahir Bhairav:              Indigestion, Rheumatic, Arthritis, Hypertension

Asavari:                       To build confidence - Low BP

Bageshri:                     Insomnia

Basant Bahar:              Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Bhairavi:                      Rheumatic Arthritis, Sinusitis, Encourages, Detachment

Bhim palasi:                 Anxiety, Hypertension

Chandrakauns:            Anorexia - Heart Ailments

Darbari:                       Sedative - Easing Tension

Darbari Kanada:          Headache, Asthma

Deepak:                      Indigestion, Anorexia, Hyperacidity, Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Gujari Todi:                 Cough

Gunakali:                      Rheumatic Arthritis, Constipation, Headache, Piles or Hemorrhoids

Hindol:                         Rheumatic Arthritis, Backache, Hypertension

Jaunpuri:                      Intestinal Gas, Diarrhea, Constipation

Jaijawanti:                    Rheumatic Arthritis, Diarrhea, Headache

Kafi:                            Sleep disorders

Kausi Kanada:             Hypertension, Common Cold

Kedar:                         Headache, Common Cold Cough, Asthma

Khamaj:                      Sleep disorders

Madhuvanti:                 Piles or Hemorrhoids

Malkauns:                    Intestinal Gas - Low BP

Marwa:                        Indigestion Hyperacidity

Nat Bhairav:                Indigestion, Rheumatic Arthritis, Colitis

Puriya:                         Colitis, Anemia, Hypertension

Puriya Dhanashri:         Anemia

Ramkali:                      Colitis, Piles or Hemore

Shree:                         Anorexia, Common Cold Cough, Asthma

Shudh Sarang:             Anorexia, Gall Stones (Cholecystitia)

Shyam Kalyan:            Cough, Asthma

Sohani:                        Headache

Yaman:                       Rheumatic Arthritis

Tilak Kamod:              Relaxation & Easing

Hansadhwani:              Tension, Pleasing effect on Nerves.

Bhupal Todi:                High Blood Pressure

Kalavati, Durga

Bihag               :           Sonorous sleep

             These ragas can cure people infected from various diseases. By listening repeatedly or by learning how to sing the proper ragas one patient can improve his energy level during his illness. Music is considered the best tranquillizer in modern days of anxiety, tension and high blood pressure. Raga Darbari is considered very effective in easing tension. It is a late night raga composed by Tansen for Akbar to relieve his tension after hectic schedule of the daily court life. This raga belongs to Asavari thaat and is a complete raga containing all the seven notes. The seven notes are taken from various natural sounds of birds and animals. Raga Bhupali and Todi give tremendous relief to patients of high blood pressure. Raga Ahir-Bhairav is supposed to sustain chords which automatically bring down blood pressure. Raga Malkauns and Raga Asawari help to cure low blood pressure, For heart ailments Raga Chandrakauns is considered very helpful. Raga Tilak-Kamod, Hansdhwani, Kalvati, Durga evoke a very pleasing effect on the nerves. For patients suffering from insomnia and need a peaceful sonorous sleep, Raga Bihag and Bahar have wonderful effects. Ragas are closely related to different parts of the day according to changes in nature and development of a particular emotion, mood or sentiment in the human mind. Each Raga or Ragini is associated with a definite mood or sentiment that nature arouses in human beings. The ancient musicologists were particularly interested in the effects of musical notes, how it affected and enhanced human behavior. Music had the power to cure, to make you feel happy, sad, disgusted and so on. Extensive research was carried out to find out these effects. This formed the basis of time theory as we know it today. It is believed that the human body is dominated by the three Doshas - Kaph, Pitta and Vata. These elements work in a cyclic order of rise and fall during the 24 hour period. Also, the reaction of these three elements differs with the seasons. Hence it is said that performing or listening to a raga at the proper allotted time can affect the health of human beings.

          Music said to be a medium that affecting human and animal brain. Music therapy is a scientific method of effective cures of disease through the power of music. It restores, maintains and improves emotional, physiological and psychological well being. The articulation, pitch, tone and specific arrangement of swars (notes) in a particular raga stimulates, alleviates and cures various ailments inducing electromagnetic change in the body. Music therapy has long history dating back to ancient Orphic school in Greece. Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle, all were aware of the prophylactic and therapeutic powers of music. Even the Old Testament mentions music therapy where King David is said to have cured an illness by playing on the harp. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used music to cure human diseases. In ancient Egypt, music was used for the pain of women during childbirth. ‘ibn Sina’, a famous Arabic writer, has written in detail on this subject. In India, Thyagaraja, the famous musician of South India, brought a dead person back to life by singing the composition Naa Jeevan Dhara in raga Bihari. In 1729 Richard Browne, a physician wrote the famous text Medicina Musica which describes the use of music as medicine. Music is basically a sound or nada generating particular vibrations which moves through the medium of ether present in the atmosphere and affects the human body. Sarangadeva mentions in his Sangeet Ratnakar that ahata nada or music is always produced by striking or aghata by a living being on an instrument of any kind so music is a power or universal energy in the form of ragas.

             Playing on some instruments is also effective for human being. Such as- One may learn to play the Sitar or the Piano to improve fine motor skills, while another may use instruments to improvise unspoken emotions. Listening to the instrument ‘Harp’ is effective for arthritis patients. Playing of Flute is good for Asthma patients. The Indian flute maestro Pdt. Hriprasad Chourasia was advised to play the flute when he was suffering from Asthma. Similarly some present doctors and musicians prove that the great composer Mozart’s music is very fruitful in case of heart and brain stroke. A great composer of present time called Don Campbell cured a 60 years old person from a stroke by using the composition of Mozart called “Symphony 9”. Campbell suggested them to play as much Mozart as possible. Later, Don Campbell used sound therapy to prevent stroke without using any drug or medicine.

          “The use of sound and music is the most ancient healing modality”, says Jonathon Goldman, founder and Director of the sound healer association from Colorado and the author of “Healing Sound (1996)”. Pythagoras trained students to release negative emotions (such as fear, worry, anger, sorrow) through music. A French actor Gerard Depardic Stammer was cured through music therapy. Herbert Benson, M.D of the “Mind & Body medical Institute” at Boston’s Deaconess Medical Center and the author of “Timeless Healing”, “The power and biology of belief (1996)” had studied the effects of chanting mantras on human physiology. He has found that by repeating a single word (such as AUM) measurable changes are produce in energy consumption, respiration rate, heartbeat, pulse and metabolic rate.

          When a child’s ear is put on the left breast, the hearts beats make the child sleep sooner than otherwise. Repetitive and continuous rhythm can take a person in to trance. It must be due to effect of vibration and frequencies and certainly not on words or genre or type of music. It just because sound affects human body and brain cell perhaps it affect the cell of the plant also. And sound waves can affect inanimate things physically it would not be wise to discard the possibility of music affecting animate things equally.

          In short there are so many of researches have done and some are still going on where positive fruitful and effective results are found. That is music can give good positive physical effects, mantel effects and emotional effects. In simple sense we can say music is not only for relaxation for normal person, actually music is for all, especially for the ill and disordered patients. An important thing is that firstly, we have to learn to feel the silence; it is because the silence is itself a very great healing effect. Secondly, we should learn to appreciate suitable Sound and Music and also how to listen music of different quality instruments added to a good suitable lyrics (if vocal song). Music evolved from a system of non-verbal communication that enables the emotional states to be communicated to others.

          Despite knowing and believing in many positive beneficial effects of music it is used mainly for entertainment purpose. So without going to much technicalities and other scientific analysis people should try to have the positive beneficial physical, mental and spiritual effects and live musically. As According to Plato “Music is the most affective instrument than any other for education.” On the contrary, person who does not enjoy music is called ‘Aurangzeb’ the Mughal King. Without Sound and Music one would be as good as dead.

Sourav Jyoti Mahanta

    Kahilipara,  Guwahati-19

                                      

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(Sources & References):

·         Philip Tagg: Analyzing popular music

• Music Therapy Today: David Aldridge
• Journal of the royal society of Medicine
• What is Healing Music: Shirley.E.Keiser
• The Miracle of Music by Rajendar Menen
• Books: Musicology of India by Prof.V.S.Nigam
• Bhupendra Madhiwalla: Article ‘Sound, Music and Life’.
• Official website-http:/www.indianmelody.com/musicintro
• Dr.Suvarna Nalapat: ‘Integration of health care through Music Therapy’

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