Music the Mind-wrecker.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 76

Music the Mind-wrecker.

I The idea that nvu«ic may be harmful— I that it can create a fever in the blood I dangerous to Jtfe and reason — will come as ! a revelation to many. I Friodrieh Nietzche, the well-known Ger- ! man philosopher, dccliies that i-here is m soino music — moet noticeable m • Wagner and Ticliaikowoky— which acts unfavouiahh on the biain and. n*rve& of. many people. i T»otiaikowokyS baleful influence cannot I be denied. He destroyed himself sfter i composing his famous "Sixth Symphony" ; ! and, as »e\eral have died by their own i liand aftei playing it. it has come ro be known as the '"Suicide Symphony." I The theory that music may be really ! poioon for the nerves has led to the formation of a society for the definite study of th« subject. Experiment* are to be iiiarle with different styfes of mu&ic upon patients \anouily afflicted, and the effects carefully noted. Knowing this, musicians who seek to ease the pain and suffering of those in hospitals by playing to them should be most careful m the selections they choose, or their efforts may he pioductive of more harm than good.