Experience the power of voice and bodily resonance
Embark on a unique journey into the world of Croatian traditional polyphonic singing, where deep cultural heritage meets the direct physical experience of sound. This workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore ancient vocal traditions from the mountainous regions of Croatia while discovering how the voice and the body form a harmonious whole.
Over the course of three days, participants will learn to:
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develop conscious, deep listening inspired by the practice of Deep Listening,
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engage the whole body in sound production, and
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explore the sources of resonance within their own bodies.
Who the workshop is for:
We are looking for ideally 10–15 participants, women and men aged 15 and above.
Dates and venue:
Monday 15 December, Tuesday 16 December, Wednesday 17 December, each day from 17:00 to 20:00
Perla, Legionárska 49
Participation requires attendance at all three sessions. The workshop will culminate in a public collective performance by the participants, opening a space to share this exceptional experience with a wider audience.
Join us and experience a transformative dialogue of voice, presence and communal harmony.
Registration:
Binding registration by 12 December at: laura.magicova@trencin2026.eu
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore polyphonic singing, the connection between voice and body, and to experience music as a collective, living practice under the guidance of our resident artist Barbara Majnarić.
About the instructor:
Barbara Majnarić is a Croatian singer and researcher of traditional music. She has sung in various vocal groups and has developed her knowledge of traditional singing from diverse sources – from vocal pedagogies and contemporary traditional music performers to original traditional singers. She actively researches music through archives and field recordings, documenting authentic singers and collecting songs from the Dinaric region of Croatia.
Her main interest lies in the older layers of traditional Balkan songs, their unique vocal qualities and acoustic characteristics, often in non-standard or indeterminate scales. Through active listening and singing, she explores the connections between body, sound and space.
In 2020, she founded Ojkamine, a platform dedicated to researching intangible cultural heritage, making endangered Croatian vocal traditions accessible, with a focus on the UNESCO-protected tradition Ojkanje. Ojkamine connects research, archival work and education, creating a “living” approach to these traditions for future generations.
