Strange sounds were heard emanating from Harkstead village hall Saturday 25 April. At one point it sounded like there was a Salsa band in full swing, at another a violent storm with waves crashing, and then the gentle sound of Andean pipes and a harp.
Ray Travasso, Music Therapist at the St Elizabeth Hospice, set out to show the power of music to comfort, excite, express our innermost thoughts, part of the Tree of Life retreat and renewal programme on the peninsula.
Ray had filled the hall with an Aladdins cave of percussion and other instruments which participants used to create joint improvisations, listening to each other, responding and creating a world of sound. It was totally releasing and invigorating.
There was fun on the computer, composing, and desert island disc sharing with each other the music which you would choose if you could have no others (as well as a book and a luxury object).
We also heard something of Ray’s work as a music therapist at the St Elizabeth Hospice with terminally ill adults and children. This was deeply moving.
As with all Tree of Life events, there was a shared cooked lunch round a table at the village hall, time for reflection and for friendship.
If anyone missed Ray but would have liked to have been there, it is hoped he may return for a session in the future.
Tree of life is a non profit making organization devoted to creating the space and time to renew spirits and try something different. It is for people of any faith or none. It aims to give time to exploring the spiritual side to life, using the creative arts, nature, reflection and meditation. For more information on Tree of Life events on the peninsula, see their website on www.reshapers.org.uk.
