Guelph Chant Club

From Arts in Guelph- November/December, 2003

by Anna Contini

It is no coincidence that some form of chanting exists in practically every culture in the world. The repetitive incantations can be meditative and trance-inducing, resulting in relaxation and clarity of thought. Chanting can be traced back to ancient civilizations and yet modern forms abound today.

Locally, the Guelph Chant Club was started up three years ago by Dennis Gaumond and John Tonin. It began as simply a small gathering of friends who met in Dennis' home to explore a common interest. Today, the group has grown substantially, and currently meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Dublin Street United Church from 7:45 to 10 p.m.

The Guelph Chant Club aspires to be non-denominational and selects chants from a wide variety of cultures including African, Native American and Middle Eastern. "Some sounds have an energetic quality," says Dennis, "and this is known as the power of Mantra." This energy becomes more powerful when put to music and even more so when numerous individuals are chanting together, he explains.

The Guelph Chant Club last performed at the Guelph Youth Music Centre as a tribute to George Harrison. "We wanted to do this because Harrison, like chanting, embodied the meeting of east and west," says Dennis. The club hopes to do more performances in the future.

New members are invited to attend the monthly meetings. The non-profit organization welcomes donations and encourages newcomers to bring along percussion instruments.

For more information about the Guelph Chant Club, call Dennis Gaumond at (519)763-0004.