Spiritual Sounding: This Too
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Scrag Mountain Music in Partnership with United Church of Northfield present:
Spiritual Sounding: This Too
Thursday, May 30 at 5-6 pm
United Church of Northfield, 58 S Main Street, Northfield
In life, and even in spirituality, we of course have the tendency to favor some emotions and experiences over others. Yet we each have been shaped by so much we may not have chosen. In this Sounding, Evan Premo (multi-instrumentalist) and David Ruffin (vocals) will explore how music and sound support us in presence with and in embrace of all of life - encountering in this way, the often unexpected value of “this too” to the Whole.
Evan's Spiritual Soundings feature improvised loop-based ambient music presented with an intentional theme. The community is invited to participate using any spiritual modality -- meditation, prayer, deep listening, movement etc -- while holding the intention of the session's theme. The hope is that this music and these gatherings will facilitate deep meditative experience which connects audiences to one another and all consciousness.
About our guest artist:
David Ruffin is a vocalist, dancer, actor, community leader and teacher with a passion for authentic expression who loves creating space for voices to emerge. David offers somatically-grounded, holistic voice lessons for individuals and workshops for groups, supporting students in work of creative and personal fulfillment. His approach is inspired by a diverse background, but especially studies with Etheyln Friend and other Roy Hart Center voice teachers, as well as vocal improvisation, particularly at present with Rhiannon. David has also been influenced by the work of Voice Movement Therapy. David shares, "I greatly value my years of study in classical voice and musical theater, but I came to realize that the voice is too personal and powerful to be put in any “voice box.” Yes, boxes can offer support, but they also can lead to disconnection from our truth. When we connect with our voices and bodies, in the moment, then our truths – our feelings, creativity, sounds, etc. – emerge more freely. In this way, we become our own best teachers."
David Ruffin is a vocalist, dancer, actor, community leader and teacher with a passion for authentic expression who loves creating space for voices to emerge. David offers somatically-grounded, holistic voice lessons for individuals and workshops for groups, supporting students in work of creative and personal fulfillment. His approach is inspired by a diverse background, but especially studies with Etheyln Friend and other Roy Hart Center voice teachers, as well as vocal improvisation, particularly at present with Rhiannon. David has also been influenced by the work of Voice Movement Therapy. David shares, "I greatly value my years of study in classical voice and musical theater, but I came to realize that the voice is too personal and powerful to be put in any “voice box.” Yes, boxes can offer support, but they also can lead to disconnection from our truth. When we connect with our voices and bodies, in the moment, then our truths – our feelings, creativity, sounds, etc. – emerge more freely. In this way, we become our own best teachers."
This event is supported, in part, by the Seaver Fund and co-presented with the United Church of Northfield.
(If you would like information about how to apply for a grant with the Seaver Fund in support of cultural events in Northfield, VT, please reach out at [email protected])
(If you would like information about how to apply for a grant with the Seaver Fund in support of cultural events in Northfield, VT, please reach out at [email protected])
Photo: Right: Evan Premo and David Ruffin (c) Kelli Prescott