SOUNDING ARIADNE’S THREAD by Wende Bartley is a work for a vocal ensemble to sing while walking in a labyrinth. The labyrinth is an ancient circular mandala shape pattern found in many cultures around the world with a 5000 year-old history. The pattern is related to the spirals and circles found in nature, and unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path that leads to the center and out again. The practice of labyrinth walking integrates the body, mind & spirit.

Ariadne is known in the mythology of Crete as ‘the Lady of the Labyrinth’ and is often associated with the Minoan Snake Goddess and her rituals of ecstatic ceremonial dance. The singers in this performance will be walking specific patterns that highlight the geometric and rhythmic relationships of the 7-circuit labyrinth known as the “Petit Chartres’, which is modeled on the 11-circuilt labyrinth found in Chartres Cathedral in France. A more extensive choral version of this work exists for a 20-voice choir to sing while walking the original 11-circuit labyrinth structure.
The accompanying electroacoustics are created from recordings I made at various Minoan ancient temple & cave sites in Crete. This work is part of a larger cycle of pieces entitled “THE TEMPLE PROJECT”, which includes several compositions based on recordings made in ancient sacred spaces in Crete, Greece and Malta. For more information on these works, see www.wendebartleytempleproject.blogspot.com

Thanks to the members of the Toronto Community Labyrinth Network for their assistance and the use of the “Petit Chartres” canvas labyrinth. More information on their activities can be found at www.labyrinthnetwork.ca