How Music Heals Us
- Kim Cannan
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
THE SEA PART II- The Return of the Whales.
Seaside Wellbeing
There is something about being creatively inspired by the ocean that is hard to measure...
Whether the inspiration leads to composing music, painting a seascape, photography, writing or just thinking, there’s plenty left over to simply make us feel good!
I started to discuss the sea and some of its inhabitants in my previous blog “The Sea- Soundwaves & Sonar.”
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), in particular their songs, have previously been associated with human brainwave synchronisation, creating calming effects.[1]
Amazing Discoveries- A Personal Song
Sounds may vary within the whale repertoire however there is a structure of repeated themes and lengthy songs that can be sung for many hours.
All Humpback whale communication (recorded so far) has been in song form, and each individual adheres to its own song type.
Recent studies have uncovered the same structure in humpback whale song that is foundational in the development of human language. This opens further research opportunities into whale song ‘syntax’ that could “remedy deficiencies in modern linguistic theory and provide insight into human communication”.[2]
Recent collaborative scientists working on Coral Reef restoration have discovered “reef song”...
A healthy coral reef is not a quiet coral reef. When (a variety of) fish, crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates forage, hunt, feed, groom and mate on a reef, they’re creating a distinct melody made up of pops, grunts, crackles and croaks – orchestrating a coral reef's signature sound.[3]
Acoustically, there is much going on in our beautiful oceans. In chapter 2 of my book How Music Heals Us, I discuss the decibel (dB) range of the Blue Whale. It has been dubbed the loudest creature at 188dB!
The Sea Part II- The Return of The Whales, is a musical tribute to the seasonal migration of whales up and down the East Australian Coast. I have used a 6/8-time signature to emulate the ebb and flow of the currents. Set at a slow tempo, it has the effect of rocking, like a lilting lullaby.
THE SEA PART II- The Return of the Whales.
Consider the following ideas to bring calmness with the help of music and natural environments,
Spend time within a forest or beside the sea. Listen to music with natural sounds such as whale-song, bird-song and ocean waves.
Consider what instruments and tempo you gravitate towards when you are relaxing or meditating.
Listen to instrumental music that calms the nervous system, like The Sea Part II.
If you'd like to learn more about music, the sea, alpha waves, and whale song, click on the link and get a copy of my latest book.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and invite you to leave a comment below.
References.
[1] Payne RS, McVay S. Songs of humpback whales. Science. 1971 Aug 13;173(3997):585-97. doi: 10.1126/science.173.3997.585. PMID: 17833100
[2] Cannon, Cutler. 2023. “A Theoretical Account of Whale Song Syntax: A New Perspective for Understanding Human Language Structure”. Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America 8 (1): 5571. https://doi.org/10.3765/plsa.v8i1.5571
[3] https://www.aims.gov.au/information-centre/news-and-stories/scientists-broadcast-reef-songs-underwater-replenish-reefs
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