(Therapist’s Corner) Halloween
by • October 27, 2016 • Therapist's Corner • 0 Comments
This post is part of a monthly series brought to you by the music therapists at Noteable Progressions. Join us here for book reviews, thought provoking conversation, interesting information, and other random musings. Do you have something you would like our therapists to address? Leave your idea in the comments, and we will get back to you.
Written by: Jacqueline Holtzhauer, MT-BC
August is fine, September is keen, but wake me up when it’s Halloween!
-Rusty Fischer
It is already mid-October, and Halloween is just around the corner. A time when children gorge on candy while their parents make dental appointments, strangers knock on your door in even stranger costumes, and jack-o-lanterns light up the night sky.
It’s common to hear scary sounding music at this time, which incorporates witch’s laughter, cauldrons brewing, and people shrieking in terror. But, that’s not all the music that Halloween has to offer! Listed below are my top 5 favorite songs to listen to around Halloween. (Click on the name of each song for a music video.)
This piece is about a boy riding on horseback with his father through the woods in the middle of the night. The boy begins to hear and see things that the father doesn’t see, such as Der Erlkönig (the Elf King). Near the end of the piece, the father realizes that his son has been killed by this super-natural being. The piece of music is written for solo voice and piano. The soloist sings the different characters of the poem, which are the narrator, the father, the son, and the Erlkönig. The range of the melody changes depending on what character is being depicted. The horse from the poem is represented by the constant triplets in the piano part.
This song accompanied the movie of the same name. It talks about seeing strange things such as ghosts and an invisible man. And while you may not be afraid of “no ghost,” Parker Jr. gives you the best people to call in case you find yourself facing one.
- Toccata and Fugue in d minor: Johann Sebastian Bach (exact date unknown, but most likely composed before 1708)
One of Bach’s most renowned organ pieces, this piece is recognizable from just the first three notes. It is believed that the first three notes of this piece are Bach’s way of calling to God. During Bach’s era, this piece was played in church. Now this piece is most known for being background music to many famous films, including Walt Disney’s Fantasia. Can you imagine hearing this piece during a church service?
Written as a novelty song, this song reached #1 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1962. The song is about a scientist working in his labrartory when he creates a monster and brings him to life. The song mentions other ghoulish characters such as Wolfman and Dracula. It is recognized as one of the most famous Halloween songs, and has re-entered the Billboard Top 100 chart multiple times, and ends up on the top iTunes pop singles charts frequently during Halloween.
I don’t know what I like most about this Michael Jackson hit: the song itself, or the amazing 14-minute music video that accompanies it. Using sound effects such as thunder, howling dogs and creaking doors makes this spooky song sound even spookier. During the music video, Michael Jackson ends up turning into a zombie, which frightened and excited many viewers. While this song only hit No.4 on the Billboard Top 100, it is Michael Jackson’s most downloaded song, with sales of 3.4 million by 2014. This song is sure to be a hit on any Halloween playlist.
What are some of your favorite Halloween songs? Please share below!
