The Healing Power of Music

Do we really know that culture is good for health?

MATTI ANDERSSON, well-known Uppsala musician, accordionist, cancer patient for almost 10 years. In words and in tone, Matti gives his testimony about the importance of music in the fight against his cancer. THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC.

The Healing Power of Music
Matti Andersson

MUSIC 1: Alfonsina y el mar by Ariel Ramirez

It all started in 2015. For a long time I had suffered with pain in my back, and that spring the pain increased. I couldn’t run anymore, so I tried swimming and then the gym, but every exercise was just too painful. An X-ray in July gave no answer – everything looked normal – but something was definitely wrong. I could no longer get on my bike because of the back pain.

In November my doctor told me that it was all due to my getting older. At a visit to the A&E a nurse told me I had sciatica and just needed treatment by a naprapath. That Christmas was a nightmare. I could hardly walk and just getting up from the sofa was total agony. When I shortly after holidays visited my doctor again he finally realized I was really ill. By that time I had kidney failure and he sent me directly to the hospital. 

I got my diagnosis on a Friday morning. I had Myeloma, blood cancer. The treatment started immediately and I stayed at the hospital for one month. I was scared and very ill. Was this it? Was I going to die now?

MUSIC 2: Dance of the Earth and Dances of the Young Girls from The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky

It is a few days after I got my diagnosis. I am lying in my bed at the hospital. I can’t sleep and I have left the radio on at a very low volume. The music is comforting, a friend in the darkness. Then suddenly it feels like the sky is opening when I hear fantastic music from the radio. At first I can’t get my finger on what it is. It is a complaining English horn that speaks directly to me. It goes right into my heart and my eyes fill with tears. At once everything feels better, I feel calmer and the music soothes me.

Just then I hear a voice behind me, whispering: Are you sleeping? It is one of the nurses, Niklas, who is working night. At the same time as the beautiful theme from the second movement, the Largo, in symphony number nine by Dvorak, “The New World Symphony”, fills me and the room, Niklas is there. And in an extremely empathetic manner he participates in this magical moment.

Do you know what an English horn is, Niklas?
No!
Just listen!

When the magical music is over Niklas brings me a ham sandwich and a big glass of milk. He says: A sandwich in the middle of the night can never be wrong.
And comforting music when life is painful can be like medicine. 

MUSIC 3: Largo, The Ninth Symphony, ”The New World Symphony” by Antonin Dvořák

As soon as I got my diagnosis I was thinking of my music. To play an instrument is a big part of my life and has always been. Was I going to die from this disease? Would I be able to play music again? I realized I wanted to do a concert, maybe a final concert before it was too late. At the time I was too frail to even holding my instrument, my accordion, but the thought of doing a concert with my favourite musicians gave me strength and hope. I contacted a friend of mine, Katalin, who ran a big music scene in Uppsala. She was immediately in on the idea. Then I realized I wanted to do something more than just a concert. I contacted the Blood Cancer Foundation and we decided to make the concert as a fundraising event. 

The concert and the following cd was called “Terrified but alive”. They raised 90,000 Swedish crowns for blood cancer research. Since then I’ve done several concerts and other things, for example musical Advent calendars, as fundraising events, and until today I have raised 320,000 Swedish crowns for blood cancer research. Välgörenhet

Up until a few weeks before that first concert in April 2016 I didn’t know whether I could play or not since my spine was broken, but I could. The thought of being able to play music again helped me getting better. And the actual playing was perhaps the best medicine in my recovery.

MUSIC 4: Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla

Learn a musical instrument and you will never be alone

That’s the title of one of my CD:s. I made it as a tribute to my mother who always encouraged me to explore the world of music. When I was 7 years old she said just that to me: ”Learn a musical instrument and you will never be alone”. I did this CD to thank my mother and my father for giving me the opportunity to learn instruments and realizing that music was the way of dealing with difficulties, pain and joy. 

Thank you for the music. 

The first song on the CD was the first song I ever heard in my life. My mother always sang it when it was needed. A hurting knee, a sore finger or a sad soul. Mommy's little darling. The song has been passed on to my own children.

The CD was made with support from Håkan Parkmans memory fund. A friend who past away way too early. 

MUSIC 5: ”Aldrig ensam” (Never alone) Aidin pieni armahainen (Mommy's little darling)

Here are some mottos that are important to me:

Music makes my body and my soul calm.

I get happy when I can express myself creatively with music.
Playing music keeps my intellect awake and my memory alive.
Being able to guide students towards new knowledge in music gives me happiness.
Giving other people the joy of music is my cultural mission. 

MUSIC 6: ”Utflykt med damcykel” (Excursion with a ladies bike), Simfågeldans and Inte Quanta by Lars Hollmer

While waiting for chemotherapy treatment, which was delayed several weeks, I started working on my next cd: “Excursion with a ladies bike” with music by my friend Lars Hollmer. I am convinced that this arranging work helped me a lot mentally. To dive into chords, phrases and melodies held my spirits up and filled me with joy. The fantastic and intricate music kept me going and gave me strength to later endure the chemotherapy.

These songs are from the cd where I play with my best friend Nils-Erik Sparf who plays the violin.

Some more mottos in my life:
Music is therapy.
Music is meditation.
Music gives me joy and happiness, and I believe joy and happiness are healing.

Another incident from my days in hospital 2016.

I have just come back to the hospital after being at home for a while. I am sick again. I don’t want to be there. Fortunately, they let my wife stay with me. She has a bed beside mine. 

It is around midnight and I can’t sleep. I have anxiety and can hardly breathe. The agony is painful.

My wife talks to the night nurse about giving me anti-anxiety drugs. I am in such mental pain. Of course, the nurse says, I will come in a while, there’s lots to do right now. While waiting my wife Maggie starts to sing. She’s a singer and music brought us together. Jazz ballad after jazz ballad fills the room. Soft. Almost like whispering. Songs I have heard so many times before. Beautiful music in her beautiful dark voice. In my head I accompany her with chords and baselines. Slowly the anxiety disappears. All tension is gone. I’m filled with peace and reassurance.

When the nurse finally arrives I’m sound asleep. No drugs are needed.

MUSIC 7: Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen

When I listen to music and perform music something happens in my brain and in my body. Apart from that I am convinced that music is healing.

Thanks for listening!

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