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

now and then by a monotonous, repetetive drumrhythm.
In a cowparative study of the components and typical
developments of such Ecstatic rituals as opposed to the
Hypnotic, I found a remarkable similarity of basic
processes, despite vast geographical, cultural and
other differences between the groups examined,
(Sekeles, 1979, 1981).
In all such Ecstatic rituals ¿whether they last a few
hours, a full day, or even several days), the rhythmic
and dynamic development is extremely similar the ritual
begins with a drum (or other rhythmic means such as
foot-stomping, hand-clapping or stick-beating) in a
repetetive metronomic tempo of 60 to 80 MM (between
Largo and Andante) In other words a tempo which
matches the normal human heart-beat. Gradually there
is an acceleration which can advance to more than 200
935
MM thus from a moderate tempo the music and the
locomotion of the participants reach the equivalent of
Presto-Prestissimo. Along with this acceleration comes
an increase in volume, and at the climax of the ritual we
can hear a multi-rhythmic texture in which the melody (if
there was one) shatters apart as do the words (if there
were any).
An excellent example of this is the Ahouache ritual from
the Morroccan Atlas Mountains which moves from 76 to
200 MM, resulting in an inability to either reproduce or
understand the words, particularly if we take into
consideration that the participants are in continual
motion, which increases in tempo all the time .
* RECORDED EXAMPLE = 1
As far as hypnotic healing rituals are concerned, the
musical aspects are different: the beat begins in a