A team of Finnish researchers has suggested that listening to music aids recovery after a stroke. To quote the article on the BBC's website:

'The researchers compared patients who listened to music for a couple of hours a day, with those who listened only to audio books, or nothing at all. The music group showed better recovery of memory and attention skills, and a more positive general frame of mind. Writing in journal Brain, the Finnish team who studied 60 patients said music could be a useful addition to therapy. Lead researcher Teppo Sarkamo, from the University of Helsinki, said music could be particularly valuable for patients not yet ready for other forms of rehabilitation.'

I wonder which music they chose? Tempting to think that it could be Sibelius, of course... on the other hand maybe it isn't: Teppo Sarkamo continues: 'It also had the advantage of being cheap and easy-to-conduct'. Any thoughts on that last point, Kurki?

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I wonder if the "easy-to-conduct" statement is some sort of mis-transliteration, either on the part of the interviewer, or on the part of the research team being interviewed, perhaps not speaking perfect English. I would think that they might have meant that it is very rhythmic, with a steady pulse. Although I cannot presently site sources and expamples, I recall that Mozart and Bach is often used in such case studies, particularily in pre-natal and infancy experiements.

So while Mozart and Bach needn't be particularily "Easy-to-conduct" (and certainly Sibelius isn't), the motoric steady pulse in this music might be what the quote is referring to.

To extend the theme a little, what pieces by Sibelius would be good for convalescence? They first movement of the 6th Symphony comes to mind immediately, as does the slow movement of the 3rd. Any other ideas?

Similar surveys carried out here in the UK also reveal that classical music can sooth the savage breast. Babies in particular can be calmed down with the right choice of music. Kurki is right, Mozart seems to be top man in this respect.
Yesterday I listened with rapture to Kurkikohtaus conducting Sibelius's 'Scene with Cranes' opus 44 [Kuolema] This would be a marvellous choice for me.--kullervopete.

Well, the 'cheap' and 'easy to conduct' was me misunderstanding on purpose - it must refer to the experiment of playing people music... but I couldn't resist!

Motoric rhythms... Ravel's Boléro anyone? I suppose you could call that pre-natal music!

Bolero would certainly make for interesting music in the delivery room. I know a guy who was most likely born during the trombone solo...

Kurkikohtaus wrote:

Bolero would certainly make for interesting music in the delivery room. I know a guy who was most likely born during the trombone solo...

This is turning out to be quite entertaining!

Rautavaara's more recent oeuvre is beginning to sound like the sort of thing that would be good for recovering people to listen to, though I think Sibelius is better still. I agree with the slow movement of the third and the first movement of the sixth. What about tone poems; The Bard, The Wood-Nymph?

Kurkikohtaus wrote:

Bolero would certainly make for interesting music in the delivery room. I know a guy who was most likely born during the trombone solo...

I kid you not, I have a friend who knows someone who used to "do the dirty deed" with her male companions with Bolero playing in the background...!