Music Moves Me

What are the tools we use to transition through difficult or changing times?  One of my friends mentioned he uses music to help calm his mind.  It seems he is not alone.  There is increasing evidence that music can help get us through difficult or sad times, that it helps with learning in children, and that it can help people recovering from strokes and managing chronic illness such as Parkinson’s.  

In later blog posts I intend to call upon my sister, Andrea Creech, who is a professor at Laval University researching the effects and uses of music on an aging population, for her expertise on this subject.  For this post, let’s look at how music can help us get through change and difficult times. 

This article in the Observer discusses the specific relationship we have with sad music.   The reason we need sad music.

The article points to a study by Tuomas Eerola, professor of music cognition at Durham University in Durham, United Kingdom   That study concluded that when people turn to sad music, they are often comforted.   

Another study published by Annemieke Van den Tol, a lecturer in psychology at De Montfort University, showed that people are prone to choosing sad music “to accept aversive situations”. 

While there are many wonderful changes that come with retirement, it is also a time of life that may bring struggles.  Maybe you had to retire because of illness or adverse family situations.  This is a time when we start to lose not only our parents, but also friends and close relatives.  Maybe you are grieving for the loss of your identity as a working person.  

There are some pieces of music and albums that move me deeply, and open my heart when I hear them.  

Camino, by Oliver Schroer - an album of hauntingly beautiful violin pieces composed and played in ancient churches by Oliver Schroer on his walk across the El Camino de Compostela.  What makes it even more poignant is that Mr. Schroer passed away at a relatively young age in 2008 after a battle with leukaemia.  

Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, by W.A. Mozart - there are parts of this beautiful music that truly make me feel like my heart skipped a beat.  

La Boheme, by Puccini - an opera about the bohemians living in the Latin Quarter in Paris.  Like all good tear-jerkers there is a love story and a tragedy.  The music is exquisite.  

Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen and sung by k.d. Lang - kind of funny to love a song with the lyrics “you don’t really care for music, do you?”  This is truly a beautiful piece of music. 

Simple Gifts - this is a shaker hymn, often called a dance song, with many incarnations.  A particularly beautiful rendition is an arrangement by Aaron Copeland.  Another well-known version was an adaptation by English songwriter Sydney Carter, who changed the words and called it Lord of the Dance.   My mom and I shared a love of this tune and we were thrilled that one of her friends sang it at her funeral. 

I am sure you have many special pieces of music that move you.   Just remember that listening to beautiful music can help you get through those hard times.  It might make you cry, but that is ok.  

P.S.  Let me know what music moves you.  I always love new suggestions!