History Of Sound

The use of sound, and music in particular, is rooted in prehistory. We speculate that our early ancestors used sound in their lives to communicate with each other, to celebrate birth and death, to cure sickness and to call on their ancestors.

	Written evidence of sound healing is present in Egyptian papyri over 2,600 years old which refer to using incantations for infertility and rheumatic pains. From the Bible, we know that David played a harp to alleviate King Saul’s depression and that the walls of Jericho crumbled after seven days of marching and trumpet playing when combined with a big shout. Clearly somebody present was clued up about the effects of vibrations on building foundations. The oldest form of healing is believed to be shamanism. Although we tend to see this as largely a North American Indian phenomenon it is a part of many cultures worldwide. Shaman image reproduced by kind permission of Misha Malpica, www.mishasart.com
	Sound was an integral part of the procedures. The shaman used sound to connect to the “spirit world,” to enter other realities and levels of consciousness. It was used to heal, for protection, invocation and exorcism. Rattles are probably one of the oldest healing instruments. Their function is to loosen energies which help to shift the negative ones.
	The drum, another old and widespread instrument, can be used to illustrate the effect of sound on the human body. It can slow down or quicken the heart beat and increase blood flow.
The Ancient Greeks used the effects of music as medicine and this practice continued until Medieval times when there appears to be a shift in the function of music from healing to the aesthetic. And what is the function of sound in our world today? It is used for many purposes. In the Middle East professional wailers at funerals weep and wail to help the mourners express their grief. Supermarkets play music to encourage us to spend more. Rugby teams psych themselves up before a match with their team chanting. Bells chime, whistles blow and cuckoos hurtle out of previously closed doors to indicate the passage of time.
	It is important to recognise that sound used unwisely or aggressively also has adverse effects on the body. Mill workers in the weaving sheds of industrialised England lost their hearing through the loud incessant noise of the looms. Actors and comedians have been booed off the stage by an audience that failed to appreciate their talents. Our cat dives indoors when a low flying RAF plane screams overhead. Sound in the form of music, can transport us to great heights and change our mood but it can also make us deaf and drive us to insanity. The key is in the intention of the music maker. Intention is a major component of our sound essences. This is explained in more detail in our information on the process of making sound essences.