CPR Festivals Archive

Giving Voice 8 : Thinking Voice, Feeling Voice - towards a psychology and philosophy of the voice. [April 2004]
An uplifting compendium of voice workshops, performances, talks, and lecture-demonstrations reflecting voices from around the world, within the frame of the theme for 2004.

Over the past 10 years GIVING VOICE has gathered together a wonderful array of some of the world’s finest performers and voice teachers in a unique celebration of the voice. Over 1,600 performers, directors, teachers, therapists, and a growing number of members of the public and non-professional voice-users have taken part in the project.

Giving Voice springs from a strong belief in the voice’s ability to communicate beyond language and cultural difference, and that working with the voice can allow people, from wherever they come, to enjoy and value the riches of difference as well as the recognition and celebration of a common humanity.

The theme for 2004, 'Thinking Voice, Feeling Voice', will explore philosophies and psychologies which have influenced and governed performance techniques, teaching practices, analyses, valuations and understandings of the voice as well as offering insights into the deep and enduring relationship between thinking, feeling and utterance.

Workshop teachers include: Enrique Pardo; Jean-Rene Toussaint; Anne Marie Blink; Mariana Sadowska; Stepanida; Sreenath Nair & Arya Madhavan; Jonathan Hart Makwaia; Judith Shahn; Tomasz Rodowicz; Åsa Simma.

The voice, spoken and sung has been able to communicate ideas and emotions in ways that transcend language and meaning. The notion of a human psyche – the characters inner most feelings and emotions laid bare in sound has been central to a wide range of performances. Some of the most difficult and illusive concepts have been brilliantly illuminated by vocal performance. Quite how the voice can do this has not been so apparent, but now researchers in the field of neuroscience are looking at the powerful effect the voice has on cognition and the complex interaction of nerve structures, physical and chemical impulses which makes up the sentient, feeling, human and gives the performer the means of communication. Giving Voice 2004 hopes to incorporate some of these discoveries in its programme.

The festival will also include the third gathering for community choirs in Wales. Giving Voice this year takes place in both Aberystwyth and Cardiff - based at the Parry Williams Building, Aberystwyth (30 March -3 April) and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff (5, 6, 7 April).