Sound emanating from the Self : an investigation of the role sound and music in the healing of disturbed Self states

This thesis is an exploration of the therapeutic role of sound and music in the healing of disturbed psychic states. The study draws upon Jungian theory of the Self as well as music theory, and argues for the centrality of sound and music as an expression of the archetypal Self. This will be argued by reference to the Pythagorean Principles of ratio and harmony and will show that the structure of sound contains within it innate archetypal mandala formations. These mandalas are expressed by the mother in the mother-infant dyad in the form of musical mandalas and serve to link the post-uterine Self of the infant with that of the Self of the mother. The initial musical mandala is that of the lullaby. Being rhythmically soft, gentle and containing, lullabies fully embody the mother/infant/world/Self scenario. As the child develops, these musical mandalas evolve into the nursery rhyme, which serves the additional function of expressing archetypal imagery. The archetype of sound is further explored by a discussion of the archetypal significance of the string and woodwind instruments. Being representative of the archetypal principles of the masculine and feminine, it is hypothesized that these instruments are expressive of soul and spirit within the psyche. Finally, two case studies are examined in detail and through these the author tracks the effects of the archetypal properties of sound and music on the restoration of the Self. The Pythagorean principles are highlighted as existing innately within the human psyche. In addition, in these case discussions, the expression of sound as being instrumental in the creation of image formation is revealed. Both cases presented with severe disturbances that had proved to be intractable to conventional psychotherapeutic intervention. The thesis indicates how the healing occurs through the evocation of sound mandalas. These are differentially evoked by different instruments and are also conveyed in the lullaby and nursery rhyme variations. These tonal evocations of the archetypes lead, through the therapies, to an integration of the preverbal and verbal strata of the Self. These two cases illustrate how sound and music resonate with the mandalas of the psyche and in doing so mobilize them into producing an inner order. In addition, not only do sound and music give realization to the inner experiences of these mandalas but also do so with considerable therapeutic effect.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

College of Music

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Anderson, Helen Elizabeth

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• May, James
• Malcolm, Charles

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7780

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7780