Playlist

I’ve rarely been so moved as I was recently watching a clip of Marta Cinta Gonzalez, a Spanish ballerina beset by Alzheimer’s and advanced old age, reacting to a recording of Swan Lake from her wheelchair.  Slumped and silent, she comes absolutely alive as the first chords sound.  She sits up straight and her hands begin to carve graceful patterns in the air.  Then her arms rise and she flutters, as if in flight. 

She swoops, she bends, she bows as if settling to the floor, which is exactly what she’s doing.  As she moves, a film is interspersed with the footage of a young woman performing a similar ballet (The Dying Swan).  It was initially reported that the young ballerina was Marta herself in her heyday, but apparently is not.  No matter.  It’s clear that Marta has performed these movements we’re looking at many times to the music she’s hearing and they perfectly mirror the ones made by the woman in the video.

It’s about as touching a sight as you’ll ever see.  And out of my sharing this on Facebook came suggestions from friends of other, related informational clips on the impact of music, especially on those with dementia and Parkinson’s, present most frequently in the elderly.

One particular film I couldn’t recommend more highly (thank you, Trudie) can be found on YouTube and is called “Power Of Music On The Brain/Dementia & Parkinson’s.”  The footage is astounding and the impact demonstrated very nearly unbelievable.  Several people with advanced dementia, some of them nonverbal, all of them highly impaired, react immediately and vigorously when earphones attached to an iPod are placed over their ears.  The iPods have been loaded with their favorite music, selected by loved ones who know them.  The response is instantaneous.  They variously begin to sing, whistle, clap, speak, make faces, smile, laugh, tap.  Staff and loved ones beam and cry.  Some are able to converse for awhile afterwards, amazingly coherently.  For a few moments, lucidity returns.

A couple of severely-affected Parkinson’s victims are also featured.  They can be lurching, shuffling, and/or teetering one second and, as soon as the music commences, dancing the next.

I’d been aware before this recent experience of some of the impacts music can have on us, but was taken way beyond them by this film.  Music’s effect is to awaken us, speak to us, move us.  And to watch these people react to a soundtrack made just for them made me think of what I’d want on my own.  Made me, in fact, think of actually putting a playlist together.  I know, without any effort at all, some of what I’d want on it.  Some favorite hymns.  A few songs from my childhood and young adulthood.  The National Anthem.  Jacqueline DuPre on the cello.  Glenn Gould performing Bach.  A complete list will require some thought.  But I’m serious about this; I’d love to have it whether I need it for the purpose described in the film or not (I pray not).

What would be on yours?  Seriously, what would be on yours?  Share here or on Facebook, where I’ll be sure this is posted.  I’m eager to hear.