Influence of Music.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2076, 8 February 1898, Page 2

Influence of Music.

The influence of music upon the respiration, the heart, and the capillary circulation is the subject of a paper by M.M. A. Binet and J. Courtier. Experiments were made upon a wellknow musical composer, and the investigators endeavoured to determine effects produced by musical sound alone, as distinct from those due to emotions aroused by pieces associated with dramatic incidents or words. Isolated notes, chords in unison, and discords were first tried. Both major chords, struck in a lively manner, aud discords quickened the respiration, the latter more especially. Minor chords tended to retard respiration. When melodies were tried it was found that all, whether grave or gay, produced quickened respiration and increased action of the heart. The lively tunes produced the greatest acceleration. Where the sound was wholly uncomplicated by emotional ideas, as in single notes or chords, the heart’s action was accelerated, but not in so marked a degree as when a melody either grave or gay was played. During operatic pieces, or those well known to the subject, the acceleration attained its maximum. The influence of music on the capillary circulation was tested by a ple'hysmograph attached to the right hand. The capillary tracings showed that a slight diminution of pulsation was usually produced by musical soundlythe effect being very small when sad melodies were played, but well marked whes> lively airs were played.