At 88, Steve Reich has reissued his life’s work and reflected on a legacy that stretches from experimental tape loops to unexpected collaborations with Bowie and Radiohead, in an interview with theguardian.com. While he credits his breakthrough to a turn away from atonal academia, he remains clear-eyed about music’s limits: “We all wish it could [change politics], but it can’t.” Yet for Reich, spirituality and personal heritage remain essential drivers of expression—his Tehillim and other sacred-inspired works channel the timeless power of rhythm, belief, and harmonic center in a world of shifting noise.

Classical music has long been related to healthy fetal development

UnionDemocrat.com reports on new findings published in Chaos, where researchers discovered that playing classical music for third-trimester fetuses helped stabilize their heart rates—possibly aiding the development of the autonomic nervous system. While the study involved only 37 participants and noted greater effects from Spanish guitar over orchestral pieces, it adds to growing evidence that music can measurably influence human physiology, especially during early development. As imaging and analysis tools improve, science is beginning to confirm what many have long suspected: that music—particularly music we enjoy—can meaningfully affect everything from prenatal growth to stress resilience and cognitive function.

HarpersBazaar.in captures a stunning cultural revival as mehfils and baithaks—once traditional Indian classical music gatherings—re-emerge as stylish, immersive social salons for the modern age. Spearheaded by creative collectives like Raw Mango and Ibtida, these events blend candlelit intimacy with contemporary flair, drawing a diverse crowd eager for deeper engagement through music, conversation, and curation. Far from mere performances, these gatherings have become community rituals—shared, sensory-rich experiences where each guest becomes part of a living cultural story.

Mehfils and baithaks find new popularity with young audiences.