Grotta Sonora gongs
Sculptural sound, experimentation and living resonance
Grotta Sonora gongs - Sound sculptures from the sound cave
Grotta Sonora gongs are not serial instruments, but sound sculptures. They are the result of years of experimentation in an Italian sound cave, where metal, shape and resonance are constantly explored. For this, the makers, Madhava Carrara and Margherita Cioffi, use a unique combination of materials, mainly stainless steel, nickel silver and titanium, each contributing to the rich and layered sound field.
Each gong is handmade and carries its own unique shape, weight and sound field. The instruments are light in structure but rich in resonance, as if the sound breathes from within.
Grotta Sonora offers sets of two or more gongs specifically tuned to resonate together (e.g. in fifths or octaves).
In the Sound Chapel, you can experience a unique selection of Grotta Sonora gongs: instruments not meant to dominate, but to open up space and reinforce each other in harmony.
Why Grotta Sonora has its own place in the Sound Chapel
Grotta Sonora gongs do not behave like traditional gongs.
They function as presence objects: sound and silence move simultaneously.
They are often chosen by people working with:
- Consciousness processes
- Experimental sound work
- Performance, art and ritual
- Deep listening practices
- Non-dual and contemplative approaches
In the Sound Chapel, their subtle, spacious nature is immediately felt.
These are tools you cannot understand online - experienced alone.
The Grotta Sonora signature
Light, layered and spacious
Characteristic of Grotta Sonora:
- Light physical structure with surprisingly deep resonance
- Layered overtones unfolding slowly
- Sound that space signs instead of fills
- Balancing silence and movement
- A sculptural presence, even without playing
Grotta Sonora does not sound like a “field” or a “battle”,
but as a landscape in which sound appears and disappears again.
The Lotus Gong of Grotta Sonora
The Grotta Sonora instruments
Character and application
Spatial & Contemplative
- Subtle attack, long run
- Ideal for silence work, meditation and deep listening practices
Experimental & Performative
- Sound sculptures with unpredictable resonances
- Suitable for performance, sound art and research
Ritual & Present
- Instruments that function as anchor points
- Sound supports presence, not movement
Which Grotta Sonora suits your practice?
For sound artists and performers
- Instruments with their own voice
- Suitable for live performance and improvisation
For meditation and awareness work
- Subtle resonance without overwhelm
- Supports stillness and presence
For ritual and ceremony
- Sound as carrier, not focus
- Form and resonance enhance ritual
Size & shape
- No standard sizes
- Shape, weight and space define the experience
- Listening in the room is essential
Craftsmanship, experimentation and uniqueness
Grotta Sonora gongs are the result of:
- In-depth research on metal resonance
- Fully hand-crafted instruments
- Manually tuned in key
- An experimental approach without a fixed pattern
- Ongoing dialogue between creator and sound
No two instruments are alike.
Each gong is a unique sound body.
Listening, feeling and meeting in the Sound Chapel
The Sound Chapel offers the silence and acoustics Grotta Sonora needs.
Here you can:
- Experiencing different Grotta Sonora instruments
- Feel how form and sound come together
- Being guided from experience, not sales
- Participate in workshops run by the makers themselves
Meet Grotta Sonora in the Sound Chapel
- Schedule a listening session
- Receive personal guidance
- Experience workshops with Madhava Carrara & Margherita Cioffi
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Grotta Sonora and other gongs?
Grotta Sonora is more experimental and sculptural; less predictable than Paiste, less cosmic than Gongland. A crucial difference is that each Grotta Sonora gong tuned by hand becomes on a specific keynote.
This precise tuning allows you to bring different gongs together in harmonised sets, in which the instruments interact in perfect intervals (such as fifths or octaves).
Are Grotta Sonora gongs suitable for sound healing?
Yes, especially in contexts where subtlety, presence and space are central.
Need to experience Grotta Sonora live?
Absolutely. These instruments do not allow themselves to be described or compared.
Will workshops be held?
Yes. The makers regularly conduct exclusive workshops at Spirit Connection.