The Psychic Functions of Music

Abstract

The author considers music as a product of human beings absolutely necessary inside the psychic structure (even if there is no musical capacity in a traditional sense). Its psychic functions are especially developed through an analysis of myths (such as Orpheus and Apollo, Marsyas and Pan) – issues linked to sound and to music – and illustrated by clinical work in music therapy. The perspective is psychoanalytical (Freudian). Meeting the individual, the group, and the community, music structure is viewed as a psychic organiser expressing the “human being with ”. Its vertical structure (its polyphonic potentiality) is especially considered as a reflection and an expression of the “groupal” dimension of the psychism itself, music expressing the complexity of the inner self as well. In consequence, music therapy is viewed as a means of a psychical reconstruction, that is to say not only a social adaptator.

Keywords:

• Music
• sound
• structure
• unconscious
• psychoanalysis
• music therapy
• group