AUSCULTA
Listen…with the ear of your heart
Prologue: Rule of St. Benedict 6th century
SOUND OF THE SOUL
An experiential one-day workshop
On April 26th, September 20th & December
13th
Registration: 10am at Abbey Reception
For Listeners and Singers of All Ages and Faiths
There is a certain kind of listening that allows the presence
and voice of God to be heard.
In this workshop, Noirin, an internationally acclaimed
spiritual singer and theologian, humbly offers her highly personal,
lifelong relationship with sounds, sounding and silence, along
with her profound faith in God’s revelation through the sense
of hearing
What makes this work/playshop unique
and transformative is that the day revolves around the sound and sacred
space of Glenstal Abbey where the resident monastic community lives,
works and prays daily. This is no sterile retreat centre but is a living,
thriving source and proof of a presence of God that is tangible and
palpable for everyone. Nóirín is well aware of and grateful
for the priviledge which it is to have access to such blessings
for herself and for workshop participants.
Singing and exploring the diverse repertoires of Plainchant,
the Irish ‘sean-nós traditional spiritual
repertoire, some Indian Hindu spiritual traditions, Hildegard von
Bingen, Shaker hymnology and other spiritual songs, we will dialogue
with our voices as we listen and respond in aural religious experience.
This form of auditory prayer will be enhanced through various body
responses to music and singing.
This is a workshop for EVERYONE; singer and listener alike.
It is for anyone drawn to sound in order to transform and surprise
the inner ear of the heart.‘Ausculta – Listen carefully…with
the ear of your heart’ as St. Benedict of the 5th century
would sing it. Discover how the human self can be transfigured
through a theology of listening and sound.
‘And what happens is a music/that
you would never have known to listen for…You are like a rich
man entering heaven/through the ear of a raindrop/ listen now again.’
Seamus Heaney
Since the completion of her doctoral thesis on ‘theosony’ – a
theology of sound in 2003, Noirín has presented highly successfully
this workshop in three of the leading interfaith retreat centres
in the United States with invitations from all three to return:
in Hollyhock, CA; Naropa, Boulder CO; Kripalu, Mass. She has also
run this workshop in Auxerre, France, (to be repeated in Summer
2006), Poland, Belgium, England, Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co. Limerick, (this
is a repeat invitation from response of Advent. See below for participant’s
comments.) ICMA Summer School, Maynooth, Charles Wood Summer-school,
Armagh and in retreat centres all over Ireland..
Nóirín has written a book on plainchant entitled ‘Gregorian Chant
Experience’ Dublin, The O Brien Press, 1998.
Workshop fee: €150 (concessions: students, OAPs, unwaged.
2 scholarships available)
Places Available : 25 per day - strictly limited.
Includes: Chant booklet, all materials, lunch & coffees/teas.
Contact: courses@glenstal.org
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