MusiCure
Encyclopedia
MusiCure is a series of specially composed ‘soundscapes’, written and produced by the Danish composer
and oboist
Niels Eje
over a period of more than ten years. The music has been created specifically for a variety of therapeutic purposes.
and inspiration. The creation and development of the music is based on feedback
, knowledge and insight received from the medical research.
The musicians participating in the MusiCure productions are all professional classical
artists, who in this context show new sides of their instrumental
and artistic expertise. The acoustic
solo instruments used by the composer include the oboe
, harp
, cello
, piano
, flute
, horn
, guitar
and others, which combined with strings, sampled sound
s and authentic natural sounds provide the basis for the music.
research project in which independent medical researchers carried out numerous controlled clinical trial
s using this music and published scientific documentation
on its effects on several different patient groups in Scandinavia
and the USA
. In particular, MusiCure has been used in studies examining the effects of music on patients recovering from heart surgery
, in which evidence has been presented that music can reduce stress
. Many other uses related to anxiety
, stress and pain have also been reported, including a trial on postoperative music for children. Common to all trials has been an increase of well-being in patients and lower levels of stress.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and oboist
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
Niels Eje
Niels Eje
Niels Eje is a Danish composer and oboist.Niels Eje was educated at the Carl Nielsen Academy of Music in Denmark 1974 to 1979...
over a period of more than ten years. The music has been created specifically for a variety of therapeutic purposes.
The Music
MusiCure is deliberately intended to have a soothing and relaxing effect, and at the same time create positive mental stimulationStimulation
Stimulation is the action of various agents on nerves, muscles, or a sensory end organ, by which activity is evoked; especially, the nervous impulse produced by various agents on nerves, or a sensory end organ, by which the part connected with the nerve is thrown into a state of activity.The word...
and inspiration. The creation and development of the music is based on feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
, knowledge and insight received from the medical research.
The musicians participating in the MusiCure productions are all professional classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
artists, who in this context show new sides of their instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
and artistic expertise. The acoustic
Musical acoustics
Musical acoustics or music acoustics is the branch of acoustics concerned with researching and describing the physics of music – how sounds employed as music work...
solo instruments used by the composer include the oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and others, which combined with strings, sampled sound
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s and authentic natural sounds provide the basis for the music.
The Research
The MusiCure ‘music as medicine’ productions originally stem from the Musica HumanaMusica Humana Research
Musica Humana Research is a collaboration between art, music and medical researchThe idea behind this project was the creation of a specially composed and designed music for treatment of hospitalized patients and was initiated by Professor M.D...
research project in which independent medical researchers carried out numerous controlled clinical trial
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
s using this music and published scientific documentation
Documentation
Documentation is a term used in several different ways. Generally, documentation refers to the process of providing evidence.Modules of Documentation are Helpful...
on its effects on several different patient groups in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In particular, MusiCure has been used in studies examining the effects of music on patients recovering from heart surgery
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
, in which evidence has been presented that music can reduce stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
. Many other uses related to anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
, stress and pain have also been reported, including a trial on postoperative music for children. Common to all trials has been an increase of well-being in patients and lower levels of stress.