While modern day musicians have yet to equal that feat, researchers claim that music improves healing by helping the body overcome stress to a great extent.

"Music has the components of healing. It leads to altered state of consciousness and changes one's responses to illness," says Dr Gulzar Singh of Georgetown University Medical Centre, Washington DC, who is working on the subject.

Though there is no scientific research on music as a form of therapy in India, doctors here are open to the therapeutic value of melody.

"There is definitely some value in music therapy with researchers developing specific music for specific ailments," says Dr Manjit Singh, neurologist at Safdarjung Hospital, in the Capital.

"Even in case of severe head injuries, the brain recognises music and what the person is used to listening at home. Brain tracings haverevealed this," says Dr Rajendra Prasad, neurosurgeon at a leading private hospital.

However music critic Dr Raghav Menon says, "To make an open statement that music can treat few chronic ailments is too excessive. This is making claim beyond proof. There has to be lot of research and experiments before coming to such a conclusion."

"Music definitely has value but it has to be proved," he says, "I am all for therapeutic value but this kind of approach is not enough."

But the US based doctor argues that studies have shown that music eliminates stress and increases output, specially physical activity.

"This was tried in schools in the West. Music was also used in sports to produce desired results from players and for muscle coordination," says Dr Gulzar.

Since the 60's There have been journals on music therapy, the National Institute of Natural Therapy, set up in 1950 in the USA also uses music for treatment of illnesses. Music is therefore, not just meant for enjoyment, he says.

The modern conceptof treating illness does not recognise music therapy although the non-modern concepts recognise the stress-relieving properties of music.

"It is not without reason that organisations have started playing music in work places," notes Dr Gulzar.

"Music has different meanings to different persons depending on the scales. We characterise each music and correlate it to the responses," says Dr Menon, agreeing with Dr Gulzar that not all people respond the same way to all music.

But how does music work on the mind? "The ultimate control of the body is through a group of chemicals called neuro-hormones produced in the brain. Music is an economical way of stimulating these neuro-hormones. For example, if one is suffering from stress, it is reflected in the secretion of a particular kind of hormones that results in anxiety and other negative feelings," says Dr Manjit.

A favourite number works as a soother for the ears which results in the release of those hormones that relieve stress, he explains.

When musicis played, the master gland for controlling hormones in the brain gets activated and releases the hormones depending on the way a person responds to a particular kind of music, says Dr Gulzar.

But how does one define music and what form of music has soothing effect on mind and body? "Each one has his favourite music. Listening to a new form prepares one to a process of accepting music, otherwise one remains restricted to one's own choice," says Dr Gulzar.

"Music is a combination of complex vocal tones, a fusion of silence, sound, and signals. It is much more than a sound signal. It is any sound which is analysed by the brain," he says.

"Music is primarily useful in memory-related disorders as it helps retain attention besides eliminating anxiety considerably," says Dr Gulzar.

"Anything that you have faith in is likely to affect the mind and that is where the emphasis is," says Dr Vijay Chandra, who runs the Centre for Ageing Research, noting if one believes it helps.

Life may not be musical but alittle music can certainly add years to it!