Customer Reviews

The Healing Energies of Music

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Hal Lingerman does a good job at defining classical music pieces to relieve tension, boredom, grief anxiety and depression, and those compositions which might help one relax, meditate or pray. He also gives quite a menu for musical pieces to give strength and courage, facilitate clear thinking and release anger.

Unfortunately, beyond mostly classical music, other genres of music are either omitted altogether or are severely underrepresented. He does however include a chapter representing some world music, women's music and the music of nature. An interesting chapter on personality temperaments, musical preference and the elements of fire, water, air and earth is also included but not enough to save this book from a severe lack of diversity in musical style.

After a chapter that basically bastardizes rock and roll, it becomes clear that Lingerman (who is also a minister) is on his own subtle musical pulpit. The music he preaches and advocates is without a doubt, slanted towards the classical genre and angelic in nature. Jazz compositions are virtually omitted altogether.

A good book for those with a preference for receiving the healing energy of classical music.

THE HEALING ENERGIES OF MUSIC. By Hal A. Lingerman. 292 pp. Second Edition. Wheaton, Il.: Quest Books (The Theosophical Publishing House), 1995. ISBN 0-8356-0722-4 (pbk.)

The title of this book might lead one to expect the sort of deep exploration plus practical treatment of music and sound that is found, for example, in the books of Jonathan Goldman, Don G. Campbell, and Katharin Le Mee. These are important books that bring us astounding knowledge about the nature of sound and the powerful and important effects it has on us, knowledge that will be complete news to most. The present book, in contrast, is rather superficial, and does not really tell us anything about sound and music that we don't already know. In fact, this book is little more than a catalogue, and one with a powerful Christian agenda. Each of its twelve chapters follows the same pattern - general (and occasionally gushing) comment followed by a discography. The twelve chapters are as follows :

1. Music and you - A Closer Relationship; 2. Music for Better Health and Well-Being; 3. Finding Your Music; 4. Music for Daily Life; 5. Music for Home and Family; 6. The Music of Nature; 7. Angelic Music; 8. Music and Global Spirituality; 9. Gallery of Great Composers : Composer Keynotes; 10. The Deeper Mysteries of Music; 11. Music for the Future; 12. Women Composers.

The book is rounded out with three Appendices, and with a Bibliography in which I note the striking absence of Katharine Le Mee's extremely important book on Gregorian Chant.

Although personally I haven't found the slightest use for this book at all, I can see how it might be of some value to people looking for advice about what to listen to. Its intended audience would seem to be the Christian who either has extremely deep pockets or access to an enormous library collection of recordings.

My biggest problem with this book, however, is that it assumes a totally passive audience, an audience that simply wants to listen while waves of beautiful sound wash over them. Not that there's anything wrong with this as such, but nothing at all is said about our own power to create music by using the finest instrument that is available to anyone - her or his own God-given voice.

Few of us have the ability to sing well. But all of us can learn how to tone, to produce single notes of amazing power and beauty. And I wonder whether the production of such a note, simple and modest as it may seem, may not be doing as much or more for us than a mere passive listening to even the most ravishing symphony or concerto.

The modern world is filled to overflowing with experts, whose main effect seems to have been to convince everyone that everything is best left to them. This, however, may not be altogether true, and may have helped to destroy a great deal of individual initiative and creativity. We all have a voice and the innate power of producing marvelous sounds. If, after reading Lingerman and enjoying some of the very fine listening he recommends (his lists, so far as they go, are excellent), you'd like to learn about the real mysteries of sound and how to make hugely enjoyable sounds of your own, try taking a look at these titles :

HEALING SOUNDS : The Power of Harmonics. Revised Edition. By Jonathan Goldman. New York : Harper Collins, 1996 (1992). ISBN: 1852308486 (pbk.)

THE ROAR OF SILENCE : Healing Powers of Breath, Tone & Music. By Don G. Campbell. 134 pp. Wheaton, Ill.: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1994 (1989). ISBN 0-8356-0645-7 (pbk.)

CHANT : The Origins, Form, Practice, and Healing Power of Gregorian Chant. By Katharine Le Mee. 169 pp. New York : Bell Tower, 1994. ISBN 0-517-70037-9 (hbk.)

The wise understanding of sound shared by these books goes further than anything in the present book, and since practical instruction is given in the first two, you may discover that you didn't really need Lingerman's lists after all.

As another reviewer (Darren) noted, this book does have its biases. The author admits that he usually doesn't find popular music to be particularly healing or therapeutic. That's his experience, and it's OK as long as you're not expecting something different. Books about music therapy vary enormously in their approach. If you are looking into the therapeutic value of classical/new age music, this book gives the topic a unique treatment.
There is somewhat of a guidebook format to the book (e.g. 'Music for Better Health and Well Being' and 'Music of Nature' are chapter titles). Within these are sections about music that is useful for, among other things, 'airing out anger' or for 'clear thinking'. Music is also listed according to the composers near the end of the book. His analysis of composers and their personalities is interesting. In some cases I had never considered how much personality gets communicated through music.
I use this book more as a reference guide to classical and new age music than anything else. The only parts where the author began to lose me was where he discusses the composer's astrological birth signs. Other than that, the content is quite accessible.

For me, this is both an inspiring and useful book. What makes it so appealing to me is that (1)It is obviously a labor of love. It's a kind of love that, at the risk of being called "sentimental" or "gushy" (as another reviewer called it), Lingerman is totally honest and open in expressing. (2) Lingerman is undoubtedly deeply devoted to music and also to serving both God and mankind.

The other two reviewers criticized the author for mainly focusing on two types of music -- Classical and New Age and I know from experience that, in general, these are the most positive or healing types, especially Classical.

Because it has to do with resonance, whether or not music is healing has a lot to do with the listener. In his book, "The Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism", Lama Govinda writes:

"The true power of mantra...consists mainly in the purity and truthfulness of the speaker....Though the inner attitude of the speaker is the main source of power, yet the form in which it is expressed is not irrelevant. It must be adequate to the spiritual content, melodious, forceful, and supported by mental and emotional associations, created either by tradition or personal experience".

Though Lama Govinda is speaking of mantra, what he is saying also applies to music in general. If one understands what a mantra is and studies the structure of Beethoven's wonderful Fifth Symphony, he can see that it is based on the extended repetition of one motif or mantra.

However, I do not believe that Beehoven's Fifth and other great works of Classical Music are, in and of themselves, healing. In order for a piece of music to be healing or empowering, the listener also needs to be, in Lama Govinda's words, "pure" and "true" or able to resonate in tune with the music. For example: If two equally pure Quartz crystal glasses are placed side by side, when one is struck, the other will vibrate or resonate in sympathy with it. If however, the second vessel is made of common glass, it will not vibrate in tune with the crystal glass.

My point is that, whether or not music is healing depends to a large extent on the resonance and receptivity of the listener. One of the rules seems to be: "Different strokes for different folks".

For example, I can listen to a recording of a great piece of Classical Music and to Carmen McRae's inimitable recording of "Here's That Rainy Day" and be moved to tears by both.

I am also easily wooed by some of the music of the Beatles, James Taylor and Simon & Garfunkel (to mention only a few) but, as far as healing and transformation are concerned, there's nothing in all the lower musical realms that can compare to a great Classical composition, such as the final movement of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 (Jascha Horenstein's performance)

I also believe that Classical Music and the very best New Age Music (some of which is listed in this book)has more healing and transformative potential than most other forms.

Lingerman focuses primarily on Classical Music, because the great works in that genre , in Lama Govinda's words, are all "...adequate to the spiritual content, melodious, forceful, and supported by mental and emotional associations, created either by tradition or personal experience".

If you don't believe me, purchase this wonderful guide, along with some of the music that Lingerman recommends; follow his clear and simple instructions for how to use an appreciate it and find out for yourself.

I'd like to mention just two more things...

I think that, by neglecting other types of music, specifically Jazz, Lingerman was expressing preference rather than prejudice. He does mention that Rock may be harmful and there is a mounting body of evidence to show that he is correct. For some insights into what types of music can be harmful or healthy, I'd start with "The Secret Life of Plants".

Lastly, many of the Classical pieces that Lingerman recommends are now available in downloadable file form. If they aren't already available from amazon.com, they soon will be. I predict that, within one year or less, many of the New Age recordings that Lingerman recommends will also be available in this format.

OM Shanti (for those of you who don't already know what it is --that's a mantra). For some people, so is "spagetti and meatballs". DSFDF.

Tim O'Hanlon