After Playing Mozart at Milking Time, One Farmer Has Seen a Dramatic Shift in Cows' Temperament and Production
By REBECCA LEE
On Hans Pieter Sieber's Priegola dairy farm in Villanueva del Pardillo, Spain, the secret to success is not some newfangled technology or machine. Nor is it a time-tested technique or process handed down from generation to generation. Rather it is the dulcet, layered tones of classical music.
(ABCNEWS.com)And not just any music.
Sieber exposes his herd of approximately 700 heifers to the famous chords, crescendos and cadences of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Once just normal, run-of-the-mill dairy cows, these Friesians now receive the rock star treatment -- listening to soothing music, sleeping on water beds, taking relaxing showers, and even enjoying sessions with an animal psychologist.
Believe it or not, since sending Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp in D Major soaring through their stalls at milking time, Sieber has seen a dramatic shift in the temperament and production of his Daisys and Besses.
Now his herd quietly lines up to be milked, seeming not to mind the poking and prodding that comes with being a dairy cow, and, most notably, producing anywhere from 1 to 6 more liters of milk per day than their non-Mozart listening counterparts.
"It is relaxing music for them, but at the same time it is dynamic, it keeps the cows active. The trick is not to have music too relaxing," said Sieber's son, Nicolas Sieber, the head of marketing for the Priegola farm. But Sieber believes it's simpler than that. "If you give the cows comfort they are more disposed to help out," he said.
Originally discovered by monks in Brittany, the effect of Mozart on cows' milk production is not a totally new concept.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Did Mozart believe in Lullabies?
There is a never-ending circle that connects Mozart with Dr. Alfred Tomatis with myself and Don Campbell and with new mothers and infants. The thread than runs through all of this is the time-honored lullaby. Of course mothers have lulled their babies to sleep for eons with lullabies of all kinds.Mozart was very fond of a French folk song called "Ah, Je Vous dirai-je maman" and it's the tune we now know as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Mozart wrote a famous set of variations for piano on this now internationally know tune. Dr. Tomatis was huge proponent of the health benefits of Mozart's music and an expert on the development of the ear in the unborn child. Don Campbell and I both studied with Dr. Tomatis and Don subsequently wrote "The Mozart Effect" and I subsequently produced a "Lullaby CD." You can buy the lullaby CD with Mozart's lullaby on it now!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
What did Mozart really die from?
European researchers investigating records of deaths in Vienna around the time of Mozart's death at the age of 35 on 5 December 1791 suggest that the composer may have died from a streptococcal throat infection that led to a fatal kidney syndrome.
The study is the work of first author Richard HC Zegers from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and colleagues Andreas Weigl from the University of Vienna in Austria and Andrew Steptoe from University College London in the UK, and is published online in the 18 August issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The early death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has fascinated people all over the world for over 200 years, with some believing he was poisoned by a rival, while others have suggested he died from kidney failure, Henoch-Schönlein purpura (a condition where blood vessels become inflamed), trichinosis (a parasite disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork), and many other causes.
For the study, Zegers and colleagues examined the official daily register of deaths in Vienna and compared it to what witnesses said at around the time of the composer's death.
They analyzed all deaths recorded in Vienna during the three months from November 1791 to January 1792 and then also during the same three months in 1790 to 1791 and 1792 to 1793.
According to eyewitness accounts at the time, Mozart's body was very swollen before he died, suggesting he had severe edema (swelling caused by excess fluid in bodily tissues).
After analysing the records and comparing them to the eyewitness accounts, the researchers found that:
5,011 adults (3,442 men, 1,569 women) died in total in Vienna over the 3 periods.
The mean age of death for men was 45.5 years (standard deviation SD, 18.5) and for women it was 54.5 years (SD, 19.9).
The most commonly recorded cause of death was tuberculosis (TB) and related conditions.
The second most common was cachexia (wasting syndrome) and malnutrition, and the third most common was edema.
Deaths from edema were significantly higher among younger men the weeks surrounding Mozart's death compared with the same period in preceding and following years.
This minor epidemic may have started in the city's military hospital.
Zegers and colleagues concluded that their analysis was:
"Consistent with Mozart's last illness and death being due to a streptococcal infection leading to an acute nephritic syndrome caused by poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis."
Streptococcal infection is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria of which there are many strains, including some that cause a scarlet fever rash.
In the throat the infection ranges from mild to very severe and can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever and, as the authors suggest in Mozart's case, a rare kidney condition called poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys caused by an immune system reaction to streptococcal infection. The kidney's glomeruli play an essential role in filtering the blood.
Zegers and colleagues also said it was possible that scarlet fever killed Mozart, because it leads to the same kidney complication, but given the evidence from the records they examined, they thought this was less likely.
"The Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: An Epidemiologic Perspective."
Richard H.C. Zegers, Andreas Weigl, and Andrew Steptoe.
Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 151 Issue 4, Pages 274-278, 18 August 2009.
The study is the work of first author Richard HC Zegers from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and colleagues Andreas Weigl from the University of Vienna in Austria and Andrew Steptoe from University College London in the UK, and is published online in the 18 August issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The early death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has fascinated people all over the world for over 200 years, with some believing he was poisoned by a rival, while others have suggested he died from kidney failure, Henoch-Schönlein purpura (a condition where blood vessels become inflamed), trichinosis (a parasite disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork), and many other causes.
For the study, Zegers and colleagues examined the official daily register of deaths in Vienna and compared it to what witnesses said at around the time of the composer's death.
They analyzed all deaths recorded in Vienna during the three months from November 1791 to January 1792 and then also during the same three months in 1790 to 1791 and 1792 to 1793.
According to eyewitness accounts at the time, Mozart's body was very swollen before he died, suggesting he had severe edema (swelling caused by excess fluid in bodily tissues).
After analysing the records and comparing them to the eyewitness accounts, the researchers found that:
5,011 adults (3,442 men, 1,569 women) died in total in Vienna over the 3 periods.
The mean age of death for men was 45.5 years (standard deviation SD, 18.5) and for women it was 54.5 years (SD, 19.9).
The most commonly recorded cause of death was tuberculosis (TB) and related conditions.
The second most common was cachexia (wasting syndrome) and malnutrition, and the third most common was edema.
Deaths from edema were significantly higher among younger men the weeks surrounding Mozart's death compared with the same period in preceding and following years.
This minor epidemic may have started in the city's military hospital.
Zegers and colleagues concluded that their analysis was:
"Consistent with Mozart's last illness and death being due to a streptococcal infection leading to an acute nephritic syndrome caused by poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis."
Streptococcal infection is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria of which there are many strains, including some that cause a scarlet fever rash.
In the throat the infection ranges from mild to very severe and can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever and, as the authors suggest in Mozart's case, a rare kidney condition called poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys caused by an immune system reaction to streptococcal infection. The kidney's glomeruli play an essential role in filtering the blood.
Zegers and colleagues also said it was possible that scarlet fever killed Mozart, because it leads to the same kidney complication, but given the evidence from the records they examined, they thought this was less likely.
"The Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: An Epidemiologic Perspective."
Richard H.C. Zegers, Andreas Weigl, and Andrew Steptoe.
Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 151 Issue 4, Pages 274-278, 18 August 2009.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Can Mozart Make you Smarter? Ask the expert!
Dr. Glenn Wilson, visiting professor of psychology at Gresham College, explains the effect of classical music - specifically Mozart - on the brain...
Friday, May 29, 2009
The next Mozart?
Mozart is often considered to be one of the greatest prodigies that ever lived. He was performing at age 3 and composing at age 5. But today, there is a little girl named Emily Bear, who is also a piano prodigy and composes as well. What do you think of little Emily and her playing?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is Mozart's music the most healing music of all?
What do you really know about "The Mozart Effect?" It seems to me that many musicians are a bit "up in arms" about the whole premise. I, as a musician and a therapist, truly believe that the whole idea has been misunderstood. Neither the woman who did the original studies nor Don Campbell who came up with the idea of trademarking and writing a book called "The Mozart Effect" ever said that the music of Mozart is the most healing of all or that it raises anyone's IQ!! A very good source to look at for information is: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901060116-1147107,00.html.I also have a recorded program called "Healing with Music: Why Mozart?" that I think you would find very informative and factual...and entertaining! Check it out at www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/products.html
Monday, February 02, 2009
Mozart's Birthday has come and gone!
Well phooey! Normally, I make a big deal out of Mozart's birthday because I'm a huge fan of his and some of my most sublimely ecstatic musical moments came while performing and listening to his music. The first piano concerto that was ever assigned to me by my dear teacher, Ernestine Smith, was the Concerto in c minor, slow movement. I was so proud that she thought I could do this and I practiced my little fingers to the bone! Later, I heard Mrs. Smith play Mozart's Concerto in G major with the Greenville Symphony and it was such a thrill to see that my teacher could actually practice what she preached!
The reason that Mozart's birthday slipped by me was that Louisville, KY was hit by a huge ice and snow storm and much of the city was without power for most of the week! Even though I kept my power, I had people that had to come stay with me and Mozart's birthday just slipped by.
Nevertheless, I will now offer my annual birthday special to you. Hope you can take advantage of this once a year offer. I'll leave it up for one week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)