Japanese Philharmonic prescribes classical music medicine

A new initiative from the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra sees their audiences 'prescribed' certain pieces of classical music to suit their needs, winning a prestigious award along the way.

The Japanese Pill-harmonic aims to cure all musical ills with a custom-prescribed piece of classical music. Concerned by falling concert attendance and general engagement with their audience, the orchestra has commissioned a series of pharmaceutical 'pills' for listeners to take.

Each pill is actually a micro SD card pre-loaded with specially selected classical music, prescribed for particular ailments. Those wishing to have younger-looking skin will be given Vivaldi's Four Seasons, people having trouble sleeping are given Mahler's Symphony No. 10, and those who wish to enhance their appetite will be treated to Rossini's music from The Barber Of Seville.

Slightly strangely, constipation sufferers will hopefully recover thanks to the sounds of Brahms' Symphony No. 1.

A spokesman from the orchestra explained the project: "We started prescribing classical music as an alternative medicine – namely, Japan Pill-Harmonic. The ‘pills’ are actually classical music data, put in small packages that looks like an envelope for prescription drugs. Different ‘pills’ are prescribed for each ‘symptom’ – like sleeping, vitamin effects or stomachache."

"People are healed by listening to the prescribed classical music data in micro-chips on the device they prefer."

The project has since been named a Gold Winner at the Cannes Lions Design Awards.