by Judy Cates

CTA's Arts in Ministry referral program aims to bring artists of all sorts together with the audiences who desire their talents. Here's a profile of another artist registered with us.

Auric healer, professional singer and vocal coach, Norma Gentile will perform a Meditation Concert of Chants by Hildegard von Bingen at the CTA Conference in Milwaukee Oct. 31.

Norma came from a musical family. Her mother played the piano and violin and said that Norma was singing along with her from the crib. "But my younger sister was harmonizing from the crib," adds Norma. She grew up near Detroit, the granddaughter of a Methodist minister whose church in downtown Detroit exposed her to a culturally diverse population. Later, at the University of Michigan, Norma loved Ann Arbor for its many languages and ethnic groups. She became especially fascinated with Spanish music, which led to her focus on early music. She later lived some years in Spain, taught voice at a music academy, and studied and performed with musicians from all over Europe. She worked as a bilingual tour guide and interpreter. Returning to Ann Arbor, Norma began to put together her musical presentations which revolve around Hildegard of Bingen. The current celebration of the birth of this early mystic 900 years ago has created a surprisingly broad interest in her life, music and spirituality. Even in a rock music store, 50 people once showed up and listened to Norma presenting an hour of Hildegard's chants.

"Hildegard goes any place," says Gentile. Eighty percent of her audience are women, widely diverse except for their common interest in Hildegard. The mystic appeals not only to Catholics, but also to a broad range of churchgoers, to those with metaphysical interests (Hildegard wrote on the healing properties of herbs and gemstones), and to the feminist, gay and lesbian communities because of her focus on the feminine aspect of divinity. Most of Hildegard's chants were originally dedicated either to Mary or St. Ursula, and only occasionally to Jesus or the masculine aspect of God. But they contain great joy, Norma feels, that can express a balance of feminine and masculine divinity -- the creative power of the Divine that Hildegard called the "Cosmic Symphony."

Norma generally performs in candlelight to set a quiet atmosphere. She uses Tibetan singing bowls to sound a continuous note or drone underneath the singing. Hildegard is thought to have performed her music in this way, probably over the droning tone of bells, recorders, hurdy-gurdy, or an early violin. Norma feels the singing bowls set a sacred space that unites eastern and western traditions. The Tibetan bowl changes tone depending on the room and the mood.

Another aspect of Gentile's work is auric healing. This takes place in large public concerts as well as in private meetings. Music, she believes, accentuates the healing practice. She is therefore careful how much sound she uses. In private practice, the meetings are meditative and help people to get in touch with their own inner guides, as opposed to being therapeutic by means of verbal exchange, although there can be a spoken component. In concert, listeners often report becoming tearful, but not sad. They experience tears of joy or release, and feelings of comfort.

Norma's talent knows a variety of religious settings. She has been a cantor in Jewish temples and has provided music at an East Indian yoga retreat center. Plan to participate in her Hildegard experience at CTA in Milwaukee this fall.

In the meantime, you can visit Norma's website: http://members.aol.com/NJGentile/Home_Page.html