CONFERENCE 2023
Friends of Sophia conferences are a unique blend of academic conference, arts event and retreat.
Friends of Sophia conferences are a unique blend of academic conference, arts event and retreat.
HEAVENLY HARMONY EARTHLY SYMPHONY
The Friends of Sophia Sixth Annual Conference
Saturday 8 July 2023, 9.30am to 5.30pm
(Evening concert 6.00 to 7.00pm)
Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy
Fisher House, Guildhall Street,
Cambridge, CB2 3NH
This event will be a unique combination of academic conference along with live and recorded spiritual music - both ancient and modern. There will also be an afternoon meditation as well as an evening recital. The whole event aims understand and present music as an audible image of harmony between heaven and earth.
“In an age of tribalism and silo thinking in society and sometimes in the churches, the Friends of Sophia boldly draws on the forgotten Biblical figure of Wisdom, who joins together heaven and earth and humankind. Celebrating the fullness of graced human knowing through the interconnection of sciences, humanities, art, spirituality and psychology, the 2023 conference Music of the Spheres: Heavenly Harmony, Earthly Symphony, with live music, new and old, as well as lectures, offers a new departure and a healing beginning for difficult times” - Timothy Radcliffe, 2023
Timothy Radcliffe is a distinguished preacher and writer of the Catholic Dominican Order. His books include Alive in God: A Christian Imagination (Bloomsbury, 2019).
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Sam Barrett – ‘Early Medieval Songs of the Music of the Spheres’
Dominic White – “‘Write This:’ Composing the Music We Have Heard in Heaven”
Cherry Paul – Talk and performance
Tom Bree – Ascent through the planetary octave
Andrew Baker – A Franciscan Musical Theology
Julienne McLean – An ‘after-lunch’ Meditation
TIMETABLE
Saturday 8 July
9.00 for 9.30am: Arrivals and Registration
9.30 - 9.45am: Welcome and introduction
9.45 – 10.45am: Cherry Paul – ‘Talk and performance’
10.45 – 11.15am: Coffee break
11.15 – 11. 45am: Tom Bree – ‘Ascent through the planetary octave’
12.00 – 1.00pm: Sam Barrett – ‘Early Medieval Songs of the Music of the of the Spheres’ Music of the of the Spheres’
1.00 – 2.00pm: Lunch Break
2.00 – 2.30pm: A meditation led by Julienne McLean
2.30 – 3.30pm: Andrew Baker ‘A Franciscan Musical Theology’
3.30 – 4.15pm: Tea break and musical practice for musicians/singers
4.15 – 5.15pm: Fr. Dominic White – “‘Write This:’ Composing the Music We Have Heard in Heaven.” We Have Heard in Heaven.”
5.30 – 6.00pm: Musical practice for musicians/singers
6.00 – 7.00pm: Musical Performances
Saturday 8 July 2023, 9.30am to 5.30pm
(Evening concert 6.00 to 7.00pm)
Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy
Fisher House, Guildhall Street,
Cambridge, CB2 3NH
This event will be a unique combination of academic conference along with live and recorded spiritual music - both ancient and modern. There will also be an afternoon meditation as well as an evening recital. The whole event aims understand and present music as an audible image of harmony between heaven and earth.
“In an age of tribalism and silo thinking in society and sometimes in the churches, the Friends of Sophia boldly draws on the forgotten Biblical figure of Wisdom, who joins together heaven and earth and humankind. Celebrating the fullness of graced human knowing through the interconnection of sciences, humanities, art, spirituality and psychology, the 2023 conference Music of the Spheres: Heavenly Harmony, Earthly Symphony, with live music, new and old, as well as lectures, offers a new departure and a healing beginning for difficult times” - Timothy Radcliffe, 2023
Timothy Radcliffe is a distinguished preacher and writer of the Catholic Dominican Order. His books include Alive in God: A Christian Imagination (Bloomsbury, 2019).
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Sam Barrett – ‘Early Medieval Songs of the Music of the Spheres’
Dominic White – “‘Write This:’ Composing the Music We Have Heard in Heaven”
Cherry Paul – Talk and performance
Tom Bree – Ascent through the planetary octave
Andrew Baker – A Franciscan Musical Theology
Julienne McLean – An ‘after-lunch’ Meditation
TIMETABLE
Saturday 8 July
9.00 for 9.30am: Arrivals and Registration
9.30 - 9.45am: Welcome and introduction
9.45 – 10.45am: Cherry Paul – ‘Talk and performance’
10.45 – 11.15am: Coffee break
11.15 – 11. 45am: Tom Bree – ‘Ascent through the planetary octave’
12.00 – 1.00pm: Sam Barrett – ‘Early Medieval Songs of the Music of the of the Spheres’ Music of the of the Spheres’
1.00 – 2.00pm: Lunch Break
2.00 – 2.30pm: A meditation led by Julienne McLean
2.30 – 3.30pm: Andrew Baker ‘A Franciscan Musical Theology’
3.30 – 4.15pm: Tea break and musical practice for musicians/singers
4.15 – 5.15pm: Fr. Dominic White – “‘Write This:’ Composing the Music We Have Heard in Heaven.” We Have Heard in Heaven.”
5.30 – 6.00pm: Musical practice for musicians/singers
6.00 – 7.00pm: Musical Performances
£45 - Full Day Ticket
£20 - Concession
(Please note that the prices
include the booking fee)
include the booking fee)
The Friends of Sophia is a collaborative, international project of people united by a common search for Sophia, Wisdom. We are rooted in a Christian centre, from which we engage in conversation with other spiritualities and faith traditions. Our approach is strongly holistic, involving the body and the performing arts as well as the intellect.
Also in collaboration with the centre for initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation (InSpiRe) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham (www.stmarys.ac.uk/inspire) and the Dominican Order of Preachers www.english.op.org
Also in collaboration with the centre for initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation (InSpiRe) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham (www.stmarys.ac.uk/inspire) and the Dominican Order of Preachers www.english.op.org