Fascinating stuff, especially the Ravel story that was new to me.

This summer I listened to an NPR documentary about the Alzhiemer striken mother of a contributing NPR journalist. I listened to the old lady, who had been an opera singer, sing Madame Butteryfly.
Her singing showed none of the confusion that she suffered in conversation.

It is heartening to know that music will be a great solace to us all no matter what our state of mind.