23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

I have chosen to discuss this subject with examples
from these societies which even today do not posess a
written culture (such as certain groups to be found in
remote regions of Africa, South America, and Asia) as
well as in societies which exist on the fringes of the
literate world (such as certain groups of Morrocan
Berbers).
In such societies it is the Oral Tradition which
dominates, and it is music as a therapeutic agent which
precedes the written word (such as amulets, inscribed
blessings and so on),
Traditional medicine is known by a number of
diminutives ranging from Primitive Ethnic and Rural, to
Folk, Shamanite and so on.
Foster (1976 , 1978) chose two categories: Naturalistic
and Personalistic: the first takes into account the
objective factors such as natural forces, or obvious
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symptoms of imbalance (fever or chill), whereas in the
second there is a deliberate intervention of various
agents which he further subdivides into Human
(Witches and Sorcerers), Extra-human (Demons, Evil
Spirits, Ancestors), and Super-human (the Gods and
their emissaries).
Whereas Naturalistic healing perceives only the disease
and its symptoms and treats them as best it can,
Personalistic healing is rooted in the overall perception
of the human being and therefore touches also on
religion and magic.
The healer or Shaman engaged in Personalistic healing
is first and foremost concerned with such questions as
"Who caused this afflication, and to what purpose ?",
For many the diagnosis is of graver ioportance than the
actual treatment.
It is held that disease attacks Man because he has