Owing to the release of dopamine, listening to music makes you feel good. This much is known. Studies suggest that the brain’s natural opioids also play a part. This might help explain why music can act as an analgesic, and explains its use by some hospitals to help relieve pain after surgery.

Some types of music may have greater healing potential than others. A key factor appears to be rhythm. One reason is that neurons in the brainstem seem to fire synchronously with the tempo of sounds we hear. Other research shows that slow-tempo music can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and other responses controlled by the brainstem. Such rhythm effects might help music combat stress and anxiety.

Research by Peter Sleight at Oxford indicates that slow music with a 10-second repetitive cycle calms listeners. He believes this is because it matches the length of a cycle of signals sent from the brain to the heart to regulate blood pressure. Music by Verdi, as well as the slow movements of Beethoven’s ninth symphony and the arias in Puccini’s opera Turandot are rich in such 10-second cycles. (based on an article in New Scientist, Sept 2015).

So why is it that orchestras and pianists in particular, now play pieces far too loudly and very much faster than a generation ago? I personally get exasperated by this, but it does one surefire thing – it gets the audience on its feet in frenzied enthusiam. Yes, the standing ovation, a very American habit! Some music is intended to stimulate and excite, but it is usually accompanied by other, slower, quieter passages that calm and soothe the mind. The audience is thus treated to a wide range of moods. But the current trend is away from the gentle, melodic treatment of music towards crude sensational “sturm und drang”- to its great loss.

One of the most sensitive pianists I have heard was at one time Louis Lorti, a Canadian. His Chopin recordings are superb examples of what true music is supposed to sound like. But, bowing to the (dare I say it) vulgarisation of the musical canon, the last time my wife and I heard him in person was a shock – he was thumping the piane as if he wanted to rip out the keys. The audience shot up the moment the concert ended in ecstaic applause. We thought the whole thing un-musical, but this is what the modern audience apparently seems to want. No taming of the savage breast encouraged. Epicureans want, and need, peace.