Dr Abe V Rotor
Can auditory art be developed by
converting word to music, and re-create the sound of nature to accompany it?
The idea is to find a compatible blend of science - the prosaic and formal,
with humanities - the entertaining, cultural, and the sounds of nature,
definitely a rare experience that takes place in the inner vision of the
mind. Violin and Nature is a CD
recording or 32 extemporaneous popular and semi-classical compositions played
on the violin by the author with accompaniment of birds, insects, wind,
waterfall and running stream.
People say, “
Relaks lang” or “just do it” as part of daily conversation. Either it is taken
as advice or compliment, the message is clear: life today is growing tenser. “
Take it easy” has a reassuring note that everybody must learn to live in a stressful
world.
Both the poor and
rich are subject to different forms of stress, so with the city and village
dweller. Ironically, stress does not spare growing affluence. In fact, it
persists invariably throughout life, virtually from womb to tomb.
The idea of
dealing with tension or stress is how one is able to reduce it effectively so
as to enjoy life and get rid of its complications from headaches to various
psychosomatic symptoms- and eventual health problems, if it is not checked on time.
One proposal is
the use of therapeutic effects of music and nature, thus the rationale of this
experiment that employs the combined soothing sound of the violin, and the
harmony of nature.
Music is well
known to reduce tension. Pipe-in music increases work efficiency in corporate
offices, takes out boredom in otherwise monotonous assignments, and fosters
proper attitude and disposition, when correctly applied. In fact, scientists
have established the biological basis of music by being able to increase the
production efficiency in poultry and livestock with the use of background
music. The key is the reduction of stress in the animal. The same result has
yet to be established in plants.
A stressful
life builds tension in the body. Headache, wakefulness, palpitation,
indigestion, trembling and many other symptoms, which wear away the life force,
accompany tension. Tired nerves need rest and quiet, as nature needs time to
recuperate her exhausted energies.
What is tension?
It is the effort that is manifested in the shortening of muscle fibers.
Physiologists compare muscle tension with
“neuromuscular relaxation” to differentiate popular interpretation of
relaxation as amusement, recreation, or hobbies. To be relaxed is the direct
physiology opposite of being excited or disturbed.
Neurosis and
psychoneurosis are at the same time physiological disturbance, for they are
forms of tension disorders. Therefore, the key to treatment lies in relaxation.
Who are victims
of tension? Everybody is a candidate. These are models of tensed individuals:
the “burnt out” housewife, the tagasalo in the family, the gifted child, the dominant lola, the
authoritative patriarch. These persons themselves are not only victims of
tension; they spread tension among people around them.
Multitudes long
for a better life, but they lack courage and resolution to break away from the
power of habit. On the other hand, many escape from the harsh realities of life
by taking alcohol and drugs.
The whole idea of
relaxation is in disciplining the body to budget life’s energies, and to
immerse oneself to relaxing moods. Music and nature are a great inexhaustible
source. Plato and Confucius looked at music as a department of ethics. They saw
the correspondence between character of man and music. Great music, they
believed, is in harmony with the universe, restoring order to the physical
world. Aristotle on the other hand, the greatest naturalist of the ancient
world supported the platonic view, which through the Renaissance to the present
dominate the concept of great composition. Great music has always been associated with God’s
creation.
Nature on the
other hand, produces calming effects to the nerve. Sightseeing, picnic and
camping are a good break to prosaic city life. Different from ordinary
amusements in the park or theatre, the countryside is one arena of peace and
quiet. Features on TV and print media provide but an alternative scenario.
Today “canned” Nature is being introduced in many forms such as travelling
planetarium, CD-ROM Nature Series, Ecology Village, and the like, to illustrate
the growing concern of people to experience the positive effects of Nature in
an urban setting characterized by a stressful modern life.
This experiment
is based on the premise that the combined effects of music and Nature help
reduce tension in daily living, particularly among working students in the
city.
Conceptual Framework
A-
Tension tends to dominate the body to relax,
resulting in tension build-up in the muscles;
B-
Music (violin solos) and Nature’s sounds( birds,
running stream etc.) make a composition which provides a rare listening
experience in varying intensity; and
C-
The experience enhances relaxation, reduces tension
and its physiologic effects in the individual.
Methodology
The Violin and Nature recorded in compact
disc (CD) was then presented for
evaluation to students in Research Methodology at the UST Graduate School on
two aspects, namely, the content of the tape and the perception of the
respondents. Physiologic response was determined by measuring the pulse rate
before and after listening to eight sample compositions from the tape for
thirty minutes.
These are as follows:
1.
Serenade by
Toselli (semi- classical)
2.
Meditation, from the
Thais by Massenet (classical)
3.
Lara’s
Theme (sound track of the movie, Dr. Zhivago)
4.
Beyond the
Sunset (ballad)
5.
Paper
Roses (popular)
6.
A certain
Smile (popular)
7.
Fascination (popular
dance music)
8.
Home on
the Range (country song)
Respondents Profile
This is the
profile of the 42 respondents, which made up one class in research methodology.
They are predominantly female students (81%), employed (86%), with ages from 21
to 29 years old (76%).
Content Analysis
The respondents
counted eight tunes or pieces, of which 5 are familiar to them. They identified
three non-living sounds (running stream, wind, and waterfall, aside from the
violin), and two living sounds (mainly birds).
Physiologic Response
The average pulse
rates before and after listening to the tape are 79.47 and 73.29 per minute,
respectively, or a difference of 6.18. Statistically, the difference is
significant, thus confirming the relaxing effects to the respondents after
listening to the CD.
Perception
The ten criteria
used in rating the perception of the respondents are ranked as follows,
adopting the Likert Scale. Note: A scale of 1 to 5 was used, where 1 is very poor, 2 poor, 3
fair, 4 good, and 5 very good.
Criteria
Rating Rank
1.
One has the feeling of being
transported to a Nature/Wildlife
scene. 4.48 1
2. Listening to the tape
creates an aura
of peace and serenity. 4.39 2
3. The composition is soothing
to hear,
Has calming effect on the
nerves. 4.24 3
4. The composition creates a
meditative
mood.
3.95 4
5. It brings reminiscence to
the
listener of a past
experience. 3.64 5
6. It helps one in trying to
forget his problems. 3.59 6
7. One has the felling of being
transported heavenward, to Cloud 9. 3.55 7
8. There is tendency to sleep while
listening to the composition. 3.52 8
9. It brings about a nostalgic feeling. 3.19 9
10. The composition makes one
sad and melancho
One has the felling of being transported to a Nature /Wildlife Scene;
Listening to the tape creates an aura of peace and serenity; and
The composition is soothing to hear, and has calming effect on the nerves.
There are six other parameters that support the hypothesis that the CD is relaxing. This is different from its effect of bringing nostalgia, sadness and melancholy that received the lowest scores and rankings.
However, there is need to improve the quality of the compositions, and their recording. It is also recommended that similar elic. 2.55 10
listening to the composition. 3.52 8
9. It brings about a nostalgic feeling. 3.19 9
10. The composition makes one
sad and melancho
One has the felling of being transported to a Nature /Wildlife Scene;
Listening to the tape creates an aura of peace and serenity; and
The composition is soothing to hear, and has calming effect on the nerves.
There are six other parameters that support the hypothesis that the CD is relaxing. This is different from its effect of bringing nostalgia, sadness and melancholy that received the lowest scores and rankings.
However, there is need to improve the quality of the compositions, and their recording. It is also recommended that similar elic. 2.55 10
Analysis
and Interpretation
The means
for the first three criteria fall between good
and very good, while the other
criteria, except the 10th, are between fair and good. This
finding supports the positive relaxing effects of Violin and Nature.
Listening to Violin and Nature slows down pulse rate significantly, thus reducing tension, and brings the listener closer to a state of relaxation. The effects are measured as based on ten criteria. Topping the scores which are classified Very Good are:
valuation be conducted on other age groups and people of different walks of life who are similarly subject to stressful life and environment. ~
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