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

posess magical powers due to the merits perceived in it
over the centuries and the manner in which it influences
mankind Accordingly, music makes its own specíal
contribution in a variety of functions, for example:
As a means of return to primal object-relation during
Hypnotic healing rituals, it is vague, soothing and sleependucing.
In this way the patient returns to infancy, the healer
takes on a motherly role, and the Music serves as a
lullaby .In other words a regression to the Oral stage of
life.
And on the other hand as a release of sexual and
aggressive energy during Ecstatic healing rituals, by
means of strong rhythms which develop in an orgastic
manner and elicit energetic, catharthic movement.
If we compare the hypnotic ritual to the symbiotic-oral
stage, then the Ecstatic ritual can serve as a metaphor
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for adolescence in which sublimation serves as the
most effective defence-mechanism (Sport, Music, Rock
and so on), Statistics reveal that in most Ecstatic rituals
the Healer is generally a male father-figure, whereas in
Hypnotic rituals we can often find a woman motherfigure
as Healer.
In all the rituals so far discussed, the group plays an
essential support-role as regards the individual
spontaneaus action, legitimation of transgressing
accepted taboos (sexually explicit movement, shrieking
and yelling, and so forth), and by a tolerant and
absorbant participation.
The first, or active, category, resembles the dynamics of
"Doing" in Music Therapy, Here the patient initiates
activity and takes part in creating the music, The second
category is similar to that of "Being" in which the patient
is passive and receptive.