THE SCHUBERT TREATMENT

Music therapy is opening a new frontier in medical treatment, avers this classical cellist and art therapist.

The idea that “music has charms to soothe a savage breast” (first voiced by playwright William Congreve in 1697) is the principle behind this touching, lyrical book. After working in the field of art therapy for 20 years, Oppert has collected stories, ably translated from French by Grubisic, of the people she has treated. They range from patients with severe autism to those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia. In many cases there were dramatic changes, with violently autistic patients becoming more placid and catatonic patients becoming interactive. Some of the most moving stories are about people with chronic pain, who found a measure of peace and relief. Finding the right piece of music for each patient was often difficult, says Oppert, but always worth the effort. The therapy is coordinated with treatment from medical specialists, and Oppert notes that she is also involved in clinical research on music as a means to reduce pain, anxiety, and stress. Strangely, recorded music does not seem to have the same effect as in-person performances, and the cello seems to be the best instrument for the therapy. Although Oppert admits that she does not fully understand how the process works, she has no doubt about its value. Along the way, she offers her reflections about the meaning of art and the need for human connection. “Music is a redeeming interruption that calls forth something from deep within us, unchanged and radiant,” she concludes. “It shines in us, between us, through us.…It holds life aloft.”

Compassionate, intriguing, often uplifting vignettes delivered in crystalline prose.