Let It Be

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by Bill Reddie

"Music is about how it makes us feel, while we're in it and later when we're remembering it. And more important for some, music is about the effects of this, on us, on our lives - and those of others." -Ted Greene...guitarist

Have you ever wondered why you were emotionally affected by a particular piece of music but couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was in the music that caused you to feel that way? You're not alone. For hundreds of years, music lovers have asked themselves the same question and so far, no one has been able to define, with any truth or certainty, why this happens.

Present the question to a hundred people and you will receive a hundred different answers. For example, the music intelligentsia might attempt to explain this phenomenon from the perspective of music theory coupled with references to well-known composers. Others may feel that something 'mystical' or 'spiritual' occurred. Still others might attribute their response to the remembrance of an earlier life episode that was filled with happiness or sadness.

Given the nature of individual perspective, you can be sure that commentary will be varied and unique. But for the most part, it will fail to identify that certain something in music that is both inspired...and inspiring.

In 1972, Channel 1 Records launched a series of experiments designed to determine if certain types of music contained common elements that might be responsible for triggering emotional response. The short story is that none were found - but the experiments did reveal some interesting and unexpected information. Here's a few examples:

* The human ear instinctively seeks order and unity in music...music that contains pleasing, coherent, cohesive cycles of events that create a feeling of harmony, unification, wholeness and completion. When these elements are missing, the ear is quick to notice and the listener often comes away from the experience disappointed and/or dissatisfied.

* Repetitious musical phrases can be either boring or hypnotic. Long sequences of repetitious music swimming in reverberation are disorienting, while excessively loud and abrasive music is capable of creating pathological conditions.

* Conditioning since birth turned out to be a major factor that must be considered when evaluating human response. During research, it became apparent that subconscious reaction patterns associated with past experience were often activated by music. Also, conditioning appeared to exert a strong influence upon one's choice of music. For more information on this subject, please go to: http://www.channel1records.com/human-conditioning.htm

While these findings provided a deeper insight, proof of the root source of musical inspiration remained illusive. Still, much unexpected and useful information came from the above-mentioned experiments, making it possible to design and create music that contained powerful stress management and relaxing capabilities.

In the early days of research, groups of people from various local organizations were asked to participate by listening to carefully prepared musical sequences. Each group participant initially filled out a questionnaire, then wrote down their feelings and impressions as they listened to the music. A final discussion period completed the session.

The purpose of this procedure was to determine (1) whether or not a particular musical sequence created a similar response in more than one person and (2) the true nature and intensity of the response.

One participant was a young girl from a church group. She was immediately noticeable due to the unfortunate fact that she could not control the jerky movements of her head, arms and legs. She proceeded to sit cross-legged on the floor of the listening area, held her arms tightly to her body and waited for the music to begin.

As the music progressed, she appeared to relax somewhat and became so focused on the music that her jerkiness gradually diminished and disappeared. When the music session ended, her jerky movements returned. At this point we were convinced we had witnessed something very unusual and hoped to enlist her as a test subject in the near future.

But that was not to be. Sometime later we learned that the girl told her parents what had happened and they became so concerned they pulled her out of the group and would not allow her to participate further. Apparently, the parents perceived the results as coming from a sinister rather than benign source.

For the record, what happened that day and the retelling of this incident is not intended to imply that music was somehow able to correct a serious neurological condition. Of itself, music cures nothing - but it can expand one's consciousness and thereby enable one to be more receptive to healing.

In the meantime, the search goes on and one could make the argument that sometimes, the search may prove to be more important than its original goal. Often, the unexpected is what turns the wheel.

These days, music appears to be everywhere and in many ways, it seems to fill a very basic psychological need. Its ability to transcend the moment is its hallmark and it can open the door to levels of conscious awareness that enable us to deal effectively and positively with reality.

So, we listen - and sometimes wonder why the more intangible nature of music seems so difficult to comprehend. But that's OK. The important thing to remember is that music possesses the ability to uplift, energize, soothe and inspire. Let it be.

______________________________________________________________________

Bill Reddie is the owner of Channel 1 Records, a company that has been producing music for stress relief and stress management since 1972. Further information regarding the beneficial effects of music and its potential for relieving stress, anxiety and burnout may be found at: http//www.channel1records.com ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2003-2006 Channel 1 Records All rights reserved

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