Abstract and Keywords
This article is primarily concerned with ancient notions and conceptualizations of music's potential power to promote health, facilitate healing, and prevent illness and with some contemporary theories and practices that relate to the ideas presented. Broadly, this article considers four areas or themes with respect to music and healing and allows these themes to interweave throughout—informing, critically questioning, and, in the end, providing some insight into music's untapped potential to benefit people. Specifically, the areas under consideration are contemporary reports and claims regarding experiences of musical healing; historical anecdotes of the same, drawn from ancient treatises of the Middle East; certain contemporary traditional practices, as well as related scientific experimentation and theories; and a more focused investigation of the practices of the Baluchi healing rituals known as guâti or damâli.
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