How about “take a walk” or “listen to music” as a prescription?
The Harvard Bulletin had an article on the hypothetical “miracle pill” which might cure all; the answer is exercise. Over the years, I have discovered its power to affect my mood and spirit as well as to get the blood flowing. Increased circulation can help fight infection as well as depression. Moving the body seems to be a word-of-mouth–advice shared by those with longevity and experience.
We all know about music’s positive effects, yet it is curious to me how we humans walk around and behave as if our bodies were not intertwined with our minds. No one can dispute that our heads are connected to our shoulders, but the extent to which they interact is a big topic. After thousands of years of carrying noggins on our necks, many seem to be relatively oblivious to the interconnections.
Some scientists and members of the medical profession, pioneering with new tools for investigating what is within, are studying music and the brain, awakening to a subject that is age-old.
But pills a-poppin’, backs a-achin’, heads a-hurtin,’ most Americans march on daily, push themselves ahead, often beyond their own strength. Voodoo may be out, and tribal medicine men may be sneered at, but our society prays at the altar of the pharmaceutical industry, bowing down to the latest idol released in capsule form, vowing commitment for 10 days to life sentences, without many questions about the consequences to the body or the mind. Americans seem prone to reach quickly for the pill or liquid chemical that can alter our bodies with alarming rapidity.
Occasionally a retro-wind blows, and a powerful, supposedly life-saving marvel is withdrawn from the market, after proof of adverse effects or numerous deaths. I don’t mean to imply that every item in our drug stores is harmful; many do indeed save lives, allay misery, and help human beings. What I am referring to is an attitude, an instantaneous reaction and belief that there must be ‘something’ to take, ingest, rather than listen to music, exercise to drum up endorphins, or rest to reduce tension.
Compounding the childlike trust in the next tablet or salve, Americans take all-too-short vacations - - or none at all - - and suffer from sleep deprivation and the consequences of insufficient rest. Stress, hair standing on end, as it were, and irritable nerves are the chief actors in the drama called living, especially in a big, bustling city like New York.
As winter settles in, “Give me an antibiotic” will be a common cry, even though we all know the powerful life-saving concoction may not even touch the little critter residing in your respiratory system - -and may even be harmful. Rest, chicken soup, honey, and time may be the truly effective prescription, but the current, common practice is to quiet the patient by giving something.
My cry is for MORE MUSIC!
I can’t wait to get into my seat on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 for the next Lyric Chamber Music Society Exciting Young Virtuosos concert, with music by Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Szymanowski and Schumann. The exceptional new talents for that evening include Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez; violinist Noah Geller, Acting Assistant Concert Master of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Mark Holloway, an up-and-coming viola player; and Joshua Roman, who was made principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony at just 22 years of age.
You can get a pre-taste of this magnificent quartet and their exceptional artistic virtuosity on WQXR, Bob Sherman's Young Artists Showcase, which aired last Wednesday at 9:00PM on 105.9FM. Details on the radio program can be found here.
I don’t know about you, but I rarely think of my circulatory system or my bony underpinning, except when I go to the doctor. Luckily I don’t have to. But can the scary word skeleton possibly apply to you or to me? Surely it refers to those rattling creatures that were en route to a new graveyard in a Mark Twain short story or the medical school model Berlioz put on stage in the Weber Wolf’s Glen Scene of Freischutz. Fragile but miraculously inner workings are simply ‘there,’ functioning without question, as I hum merrily along, using my legs and muscles to walk for miles, my arms and fingers to type, swim, play the piano, gesticulate, hail a taxi or a bus, eat, and so on. It seems so simple: I am here, therefore I am.
My white cells, heart, and other organs are mere words, until someone is poking me with a needle, drawing blood, lacing me with metal plates for an electrocardiogram, rubbing a wand for a sonogram, squeezing, flattening, or shoving me like a pizza into a silent chamber for yet another esoteric investigation of my innerds. Then my literally blue blood, circulatory system, pumping heart, aerating lungs, web of muscles, and other such wonders come to mind. I confront my mortality, until I leave and retreat to the outside-of-the-doctor’s-
Or perchance to find great music making, like the Lyric’s.
"Please let me know your opinion of my writing and reviews. You can write to me at GUSTAVWIND@LYRICNY.ORG. I love getting attention! Please remember to use only the loftiest terms and the most elevated thoughts. Lyric's website and a person of my stature cannot and will not respond to inappropriate language which is so disgustingly prevalent in our society at this time."
"Looking forward to hearing from you (and to seeing you, if you can find me. I am known for my varied disguises, and no one has recognized me yet, in my many venerable years of concert-going and reviewing. As a result, some are naturally curious about my identity, and others have gone so far as to speculate that I am not a man at all but might be a female. What a ridiculous notion! What parent would name a daughter Gustav? Catch me, if you can….)"
"Yours,
Gustav Wind, E.C. (Eminent Critic), R.C. (Revered Critic) and
E.G. (Eminence Grise)"
"Copyright Gustav Wind 2010. This copyrighted work is the property of the author and may not be reproduced or used without permission of the author."
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Please note: To receive a review from the eminent critic, Gustav Wind, is always an unexpected surprise - - and windfall. As The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York is being acclaimed for its activities, we are, of course, pleased by interest in us in the press. You may have seen Gustav’s writing in prestigious publications and learned journals throughout the world, so we are especially delighted by his attention.
Gustav has given us permission to post his writing on our website www.lyricny.org, alongside our 2010-2011 Season programs, Music Player, Photo Gallery, and myriad of additional treats for the eye and mind. If you have not yet visited our site, please do; and let us know your reactions.
Beware: Gustav has threatened to review our website, to monitor its electronic effectiveness and elegance, and to alert readers to changes, updates, and content he may or may not like.
The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York is proud to reproduce the writings (and ravings) of the unique windbag and extraordinary music critic, Gustav Wind. Gustav’s high standards are consistent with our own; and we believe that we can stand up to his scrutiny with our world-class artists, world-class concerts, and world-class music-making. We never fear when Gustav is near - - although we cannot say the same for all other critics.
However, Gustav’s reviews and writing represent the opinion and the writing of Gustav Wind and not of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, which disclaims all responsibility for its content.
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