Download symbolism and acoustics - 2nd WORLD CONGRESS OF ARTS

János Pap
SYMBOLISM AND ACOUSTICS
(MUSICAL IMSTRUMENTS IN THE MUSIC THERAPY)
abstract
Traditional musical instruments are characterized by a high degree of unity in form,
material and acoustical content. This feature can be used to reinforce their symbolic
meaning in the music therapy. The symbolism of musical instruments is conditioned by
their cultural context, whereas their „sound-symbolism” is mostly based on physical,
biological and physiological laws.
The special instruments used in music therapy feature greatly varied acoustical
parameters which serve an important purpose: the patient and the therapist can better
express their nonverbal messages. So the simplicity of these instruments is useful only at
the beginning of the active musical communication. When planning and building new
instruments, we must strive for free and relatively easy playability of these acoustical
parameters, for the expressiveness of the instruments, and for the preservation of their
archetypal and archaic symbolic contents.