Hidden Musicians of History Month: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗱: King Saul

Today’s hidden musician sits right at the awkward intersection of power, paranoia, and divine disapproval.

King Saul.

 First king of Israel.

 Deeply unstable.

 And medically dependent on live music.

The biblical account is wonderfully blunt: Saul was tormented by an “evil spirit”. In modern terms, we might call it severe anxiety, depression, or a complete emotional unravelling under pressure.

The prescribed treatment?

Not prayer.

 Not counsel.

 Not rest.

Music.

Whenever Saul spiralled, a young musician was summoned to play for him. That musician was David, armed not with a sword, but a lyre. And when David played, Saul calmed. The rage subsided. The mind cleared. Peace returned.

Temporarily, at least.

This is one of the earliest written acknowledgements of music as therapy. Not metaphorical. Not symbolic. Practical. Functional. Effective.

It’s also deliciously ironic.

A king chosen by God, ruling with absolute authority, unable to govern his own mind without someone sitting quietly in the corner playing gentle accompaniment.

So today we remember Saul not just as a tragic ruler, but as living proof that music has always mattered. Long before neuroscience. Long before wellbeing programmes. Long before anyone needed to justify it with data.

King Saul

 King

 Cautionary tale

And history’s earliest documented case of “please play something before I lose it”

 🎶 𝗜’𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗢’𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹 — 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆

 Inspiring young minds through music — helping teachers grow income, confidence, and creativity, one child and one rhythm at a time.