This year I am writing a series of essays in Magasinet Klassisk, where I examine what happens to us when we listen to music. My claim is that we are being transformed — but why and how?
The essays are based on conversations with my greatest heroes in the artistic, the spiritual, and the academic world. And in this first essay with a true rock star in my book — a true pioneer — the 84-year-old Swedish music psychologist Alf Gabrielsson, who since the 60’s has collected stories from almost 1000 people about their strongest experiences with music.
In addition to Gabrielsson’s research, I write about New Zealand healing music, neuropsychology, Brian Eno’s “work” concept, good old-fashioned critique of academia, and the music’s original shamanistic roots.