Medicinal Music

Salut! presents a concert of baroque music with works by Bach, Zelenka, Handel, Eccles, Marais, Charpentier & Durante. By the 18th century, little was yet understood about diseases, which were often extremely contagious, with high mortality rates. Treatments were usually ineffective and often hastened death. In the absence of remedies, as far back as Ancient Greece and Egypt, the healing power of music was recognised as therapeutic. Musica laetitiae comes, medicina dolorum [Music is a companion to joy and a medicine for pains] is a recurring motif during the Baroque period, and was included in paintings, as part of harpsichord decorations, and in manuscripts. Medical matters were also a source of fascination for composers, artists and writers, with surgery, madness, insomnia and hypochondria all providing inspiration. Entry Cost Adult $45 Concession $40