RN Documentary: Musica Humana

RN Documentary: Musica Humana

Series: RN Documentaries
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Length: 00:29:30

Musicians and doctors in Denmark compose and use music in hospitals. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: RN Documentary: Musica Humana
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Rnlogoenglish_small One of the worst things about going in to hospital is the fact that it’s so unfamiliar; white walls, strange machines and sick people. And if you are going to have an operation, you’re probably also very worried… Well a group of doctors and musicians in Denmark have realised just how scary this whole procedure is for many of us. So they’ve formed a research project called ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ – which involves music specially composed to relax nervous patients, calm busy nurses and bring deeply anaesthetised patients back to reality. Based on the rhythm of a human heart – and woven together with the familiar sounds of the natural world, the music of Danish Composer Niels Eje has astounded even the most cynical of medics by calming the heart-beat of patients undergoing intensive cardiac procedures. And subject to rigorous scientific testing, the sound environment created by ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ has been proven to help patients recover better, feel less pain and have a much experience of their stay in hospital. Anne Blair Gould visits the musicians and scientists behind ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ and asks how this music helps in the healing process…

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Piece Description

One of the worst things about going in to hospital is the fact that it’s so unfamiliar; white walls, strange machines and sick people. And if you are going to have an operation, you’re probably also very worried… Well a group of doctors and musicians in Denmark have realised just how scary this whole procedure is for many of us. So they’ve formed a research project called ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ – which involves music specially composed to relax nervous patients, calm busy nurses and bring deeply anaesthetised patients back to reality. Based on the rhythm of a human heart – and woven together with the familiar sounds of the natural world, the music of Danish Composer Niels Eje has astounded even the most cynical of medics by calming the heart-beat of patients undergoing intensive cardiac procedures. And subject to rigorous scientific testing, the sound environment created by ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ has been proven to help patients recover better, feel less pain and have a much experience of their stay in hospital. Anne Blair Gould visits the musicians and scientists behind ‘MUSICA HUMANA’ and asks how this music helps in the healing process…

Transcript

MUSICA HUMANA

Fade up FX
DALET – Documentary; A-Raw:
Intensive Care FX

ANNE: You’re in hospital….

you’re going to have an operation….

you need general anaesthetic….

[voices]

ANNE: the surroundings are unfamiliar…

you’re worried….

the moment comes when you’re wheeled into theatre….

the anaesthetist gives you an injection…

he says “Count back from 50….”

*start fading FX*

ANNE: you say 50….49….48….47….

……….and then nothing….

*WAIT A FULL 4 SECONDS!!!*

ANNE: You’ve been out - maybe minutes, maybe hours - you don’t know.
You feel…nothing…!

MUSIC - Fade up from beginning…
DALET – Documentary; A-Tunes:
‘Musicure’

ANNE: …and then you slowly become aware of something far away, something easing you back to reality, something …WONDERFUL!

FADE UP MUSIC at 13 secs
AND HOLD - TILL 36 secs
THEN HOLD UNDER CLIP

DALET –...
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

Sound Carrier - Musicure
Title - The Journey
Label - Gefion Records
Catalogue No. - GFO 20132
Composer - Niels Eje
Performers - Niels Eje; Inge Mulvad Eje; Berit Spaeling.
Total time used - 23 mins 45 seconds

Related Website

http://www.rnw.nl/special/en/html/040415doc.html