One of the challenges of playing "relaxation music" is the way that people use the term "relaxation." Frequently, the term is used to mean "reduction of anxiety" instead of "slowing down the body process."
For example, a cigarette smoker reports that smoking a cigarette causes them to feel relaxed. Medical studies show that the Nicotine is actually a stimulant and increases heart rate, pulse, metabolism, and the speed of most of the body processes. And yet, people report "feeling relaxed." I assume that this is due to the reduction in anxiety that smoking a cigarette causes -- in this case reduction of anxiety about when to receive another "fix" of an addictive drug.
This phenomenon becomes challenging in music, because the attraction to music, and music listening is still somewhat of a mystery. It serves no practical purpose except as a distraction. In fact, the music is not really even there, being constructed by the mind upon listening. Furthermore, listening to music that is "strange," or "foreign," or "not anticipated," can cause more anxiety and stress instead of relieving it, because "we don't like that music and want it to stop."
Finally, since music and music listening is inherently cultural, it would be difficult to find a type of music, or sound arrangement that would be Universally perceived by all people, in all cultures, as being "pleasant," "relaxing," or even "enjoyable."
Nevertheless, "relaxation music" is an interesting problem and a challenging exercise for a performer or composer.
copyright (c) 2018
William Schaeffer
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