It’s interesting to note that many ancient musical traditions also emphasize breath as a life-giving force. For instance, in Indian classical music, pranayama (breath control) is central to vocal training, similar to what Kofler was exploring. This is deeply connected to the idea of "Nada Brahma" or "the world is sound," where breath and vibration are seen as key to both physical and spiritual well-being. Kofler’s intuitive understanding of breath control almost mirrors the holistic approaches of these older traditions, though he arrived at it through his own fight for survival.
I’m always in awe how prolific writers are with the many topics and interests. I have noted all the authors and books you’ve included. I’m also doing the humanities course—how does one organize many topics without getting lost or overwhelmed?
I’ve got lots of research to do. This topic energizes me. Thank you so much, Prof!! I may not know the exact science, but I know singing and vibrations inside of my sinus cavity changed my micro biome. Singing is like a heavenly hug from within. I also know humming and singing helped me get through some pretty rotten emotional turmoil in my teens. Just as music heals physical ailments, the spiritual soul food it provides helps a person feel whole and connected to others. This is beautiful. Music is a spiritual experience to many, so I love it when science backs it up with facts and tangible evidence even hard data-oriented people can nod their heads to. James Nestor is another fascinating author on breath, sound, and echolocation. He spent a lot of time researching sperm whales. Their “clicking” can seize a person—he said his arm actually went numb from the vibrations! These amazing mammals go 90 mins or so before coming up for air. Breath-work is fascinating, indeed! From our Navy Seals to great woodwind players or brass instruments, to gymnasts on a high beam—hyper focus, relaxation, box-breathing…I love to go down this rabbit hole 😊
This is fascinating! I would love to see you do a piece on Roy Hart, the singer who apparently taught himself to sing with a seven-octave range, and claimed to be able to teach anyone to do the same.
Thank you, what a wonderful and comforting story to read on a Sunday morning. I went online and booked an online improv singing class this evening - I hadn't been for months and you reminded how much I miss it!
Greeat perspective on singing, which perhaps is a way of saying that rhythmic breathing might actually propel the benefits of singing . . .
When I was a young trumpet major at FSU, anytime I got sick I would go to the band room when nobody was there and play my trumpet, especially long slow tones–which after all were reputed to improve "tone."
Later in life I had a Steiner Electronic Valve Instrument that I played in the quiet of my living room at all hours. One time I noticed a strange "bump" while I was playing. I stopped and looked around and could find no source for such. Finally I realized that I was hearing my heart in the tones produced! Not so strange, as the lungs are coupled quite closely with the heart. Then I began to wonder if wind instrument playing might be "effective" because we literally hear the heart beat of the player? Best, Tom Rhea.
I loved reading this about your heartbeat and playing. I thought of woodwind and brass players. Embouchure to provide proper airflow or even the cheeks of duduk players that hold air like puffer fishes! Think of old pipe organs, too. The way air flows through them brought so much life into cathedrals—very organic like the instrument is alive. I remember reading about Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan requesting an actual pipe organ player from a church in England for the Interstellar soundtrack to bring it a more human flair in the vacuum of space. Pneuma. Until our very last breath!
Kate, thanks for your insights, particularly about the pipes of organs. It's for sure that respiration is critical in human thought. In fact, we evidently can think that life exists due to breathing when no brain waves presently exist . . .
Ted how fascinating this article is! It’s caused me to track down the work of some of these individuals which has given me great pleasure. Thank you so much!!
Thank you yet again! My husband with Parkinson’s had been given LVST voice therapy but it is not as good on helpful breathing, so I was trying to convince him on real singing lessons (knowing how it correctly deals with breathing). Now I Know What to Do Next!
By the way, he uses Rock Steady Boxing, a program crucial to successful Parkinson’s living. And another called Drumboxing is currently being developed. We all know about therapeutic rhythm, thanks to Ted.
When I was a child, my mother told me of someone (I assumed she knew him personally) who had been diagnosed with TB and given a few months to live. He started every day by throwing open his bedroom window and taking deep breaths for several minutes. (There was little pollution then.) He recovered and lived a normal lifespan. Perhaps Kofler's discovery was more widely known in the times where TB was rampant. I'll have to read this book.
Regarding the healing properties of music, I do recall one day in high school I had a cold and was feeling miserable. After band class (I played tuba) I realized that I was feeling much better. I don't remember how long the effect lasted, but it did get me through that day.
Maybe it also benefits Horn players also ? I 1st learned of "Circular breathing" when I read something about Rhasaan Roland Kirk (the 2-3 horns at once guy). I heard him on a Quincy Jones record & wondered how he was able to play such Long phrases. I have since read that several of my Fav horn guys do this.
More thoughtful reading of the highest level. Really been enjoying the ongoing series of essays on these "Visionaries of Sound." I wonder if you'll do a profile someday of the iconoclastic American composer Harry Partch. For over four decades he blazed a musical trail that transcended the conventions of musical composition, by using as his basis the multi-tones he found in the space of the octave. It enabled him to make the first transitions ever from the human voice to the musical instrument. And to be able to play his own multi-tone scale, Partch had to design and build from scratch his own musical instruments. It's no wonder he was often called "the Don Quixote of music" by his critics. I was fortunate to see a live performance of his dance-theater satire "The Bewitched" at the Stanford Music Hall (as it was called in the mid-70s) in Palo Alto almost 50 years ago. Just amazing. Anyway, I think he'd be an excellent candidate for your series.
It’s interesting to note that many ancient musical traditions also emphasize breath as a life-giving force. For instance, in Indian classical music, pranayama (breath control) is central to vocal training, similar to what Kofler was exploring. This is deeply connected to the idea of "Nada Brahma" or "the world is sound," where breath and vibration are seen as key to both physical and spiritual well-being. Kofler’s intuitive understanding of breath control almost mirrors the holistic approaches of these older traditions, though he arrived at it through his own fight for survival.
I’m always in awe how prolific writers are with the many topics and interests. I have noted all the authors and books you’ve included. I’m also doing the humanities course—how does one organize many topics without getting lost or overwhelmed?
I’ve got lots of research to do. This topic energizes me. Thank you so much, Prof!! I may not know the exact science, but I know singing and vibrations inside of my sinus cavity changed my micro biome. Singing is like a heavenly hug from within. I also know humming and singing helped me get through some pretty rotten emotional turmoil in my teens. Just as music heals physical ailments, the spiritual soul food it provides helps a person feel whole and connected to others. This is beautiful. Music is a spiritual experience to many, so I love it when science backs it up with facts and tangible evidence even hard data-oriented people can nod their heads to. James Nestor is another fascinating author on breath, sound, and echolocation. He spent a lot of time researching sperm whales. Their “clicking” can seize a person—he said his arm actually went numb from the vibrations! These amazing mammals go 90 mins or so before coming up for air. Breath-work is fascinating, indeed! From our Navy Seals to great woodwind players or brass instruments, to gymnasts on a high beam—hyper focus, relaxation, box-breathing…I love to go down this rabbit hole 😊
Very good read. I enjoyed.
This is fascinating! I would love to see you do a piece on Roy Hart, the singer who apparently taught himself to sing with a seven-octave range, and claimed to be able to teach anyone to do the same.
A fascinating book I read a couple of years ago deals with this very thing. It was an absolute eye-opener.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547761/breath-by-james-nestor/
Thank you, what a wonderful and comforting story to read on a Sunday morning. I went online and booked an online improv singing class this evening - I hadn't been for months and you reminded how much I miss it!
Greeat perspective on singing, which perhaps is a way of saying that rhythmic breathing might actually propel the benefits of singing . . .
When I was a young trumpet major at FSU, anytime I got sick I would go to the band room when nobody was there and play my trumpet, especially long slow tones–which after all were reputed to improve "tone."
Later in life I had a Steiner Electronic Valve Instrument that I played in the quiet of my living room at all hours. One time I noticed a strange "bump" while I was playing. I stopped and looked around and could find no source for such. Finally I realized that I was hearing my heart in the tones produced! Not so strange, as the lungs are coupled quite closely with the heart. Then I began to wonder if wind instrument playing might be "effective" because we literally hear the heart beat of the player? Best, Tom Rhea.
I loved reading this about your heartbeat and playing. I thought of woodwind and brass players. Embouchure to provide proper airflow or even the cheeks of duduk players that hold air like puffer fishes! Think of old pipe organs, too. The way air flows through them brought so much life into cathedrals—very organic like the instrument is alive. I remember reading about Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan requesting an actual pipe organ player from a church in England for the Interstellar soundtrack to bring it a more human flair in the vacuum of space. Pneuma. Until our very last breath!
Kate, thanks for your insights, particularly about the pipes of organs. It's for sure that respiration is critical in human thought. In fact, we evidently can think that life exists due to breathing when no brain waves presently exist . . .
I love to sing but as one “admirer” put it, “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket”😢. Nonetheless it brings me great joy.
Excellent Sunday morning reading. Thank You!
Ted how fascinating this article is! It’s caused me to track down the work of some of these individuals which has given me great pleasure. Thank you so much!!
Thank you yet again! My husband with Parkinson’s had been given LVST voice therapy but it is not as good on helpful breathing, so I was trying to convince him on real singing lessons (knowing how it correctly deals with breathing). Now I Know What to Do Next!
By the way, he uses Rock Steady Boxing, a program crucial to successful Parkinson’s living. And another called Drumboxing is currently being developed. We all know about therapeutic rhythm, thanks to Ted.
When I was a child, my mother told me of someone (I assumed she knew him personally) who had been diagnosed with TB and given a few months to live. He started every day by throwing open his bedroom window and taking deep breaths for several minutes. (There was little pollution then.) He recovered and lived a normal lifespan. Perhaps Kofler's discovery was more widely known in the times where TB was rampant. I'll have to read this book.
Regarding the healing properties of music, I do recall one day in high school I had a cold and was feeling miserable. After band class (I played tuba) I realized that I was feeling much better. I don't remember how long the effect lasted, but it did get me through that day.
Examples of the technique’s you use please, Mr Goia?
Maybe it also benefits Horn players also ? I 1st learned of "Circular breathing" when I read something about Rhasaan Roland Kirk (the 2-3 horns at once guy). I heard him on a Quincy Jones record & wondered how he was able to play such Long phrases. I have since read that several of my Fav horn guys do this.
Ted did a piece on the potential challenges of circle breathing recently leading to early death.
Thanks for the update. I'll have to look at that. Had not heard this
More thoughtful reading of the highest level. Really been enjoying the ongoing series of essays on these "Visionaries of Sound." I wonder if you'll do a profile someday of the iconoclastic American composer Harry Partch. For over four decades he blazed a musical trail that transcended the conventions of musical composition, by using as his basis the multi-tones he found in the space of the octave. It enabled him to make the first transitions ever from the human voice to the musical instrument. And to be able to play his own multi-tone scale, Partch had to design and build from scratch his own musical instruments. It's no wonder he was often called "the Don Quixote of music" by his critics. I was fortunate to see a live performance of his dance-theater satire "The Bewitched" at the Stanford Music Hall (as it was called in the mid-70s) in Palo Alto almost 50 years ago. Just amazing. Anyway, I think he'd be an excellent candidate for your series.
Gee, I wonder if Ted saw that too?
I was about to dedicate part of my work to group singing... Reading this strengths my will to do so!