In ancient India, Egypt, and Greece, music was often composed and performed for medicinal purposes. Native cultures have always respected the curative properties and healing effects of music. In Sounding the Inner Landscape teacher, performer, and composer Kay Gardner examines what she calls "this universal source of wellness, goodness, wholeness, and holiness." She believes that it is not too late to revive this art of healing.

In her fascinating exploration of music as medicine, Gardner examines droning, toning, mantra, and chant. She looks at harmonics as "a stairway to the spiritual" and rhythm as pulse.Leonard Bernstein once called melody "the singing side of music." Gardner shows how it can be used to lift us out of pain. She then surveys the quest to fit powerful scales, modes, and ragas to specific ailments. The final section reveals the different kinds of healing powers in the spectrum of instruments. This is an informative and enlightening volume on the therapeutic qualities of music and sound.