Cornflower
has been leading monthly Circlesinging
events and has shared this technique at
some private retreats since he returned
from studying with Bobby
McFerrin and Voicestra at the OMEGA
Institute Masterclass "Spontaneous
Inventions" in the Summer of 2005.
Cornflower also was invited
to be one of 5 leaders at the annual 12-hour
Circlesongs event "Singing for
Your Life" in 2005, in Oakland,
CA.
This event was first
organized by Bobby McFerrin and is now
hosted by SoVoso
and organized by Arts
First Oakland.
To book Cornflower
to facilitate an event or workshop in
your area please go to the contact page:
CLICK HERE.
What is Circlesongs?:
Circlesongs is where a circle
of singers takes melodic and rhythmic
cues (parts) from a skilled facilitator
creating repeated rhythmic and harmonic
patterns that create songs unique to the
moment.
Most Circlesongs are
revolving wordless vocal patterns, yet
the syllables help distinguish one from
the next. At times they are pure scat,
but in some songs they sound like an invented
language. As the facilitator cues out
old parts and introduces new ones, the
song continues and changes without stopping,
the backgrounds evolve in subtle variations
as the facilitator (and at times other
singers) groove on top, yet are always
staying grounded in attentive listening.
Circlesinging pulls from
all kinds of African, Middle Eastern and
other vocal or vocal percussive techniques.
Under the creative guidance of the skilled
facilitator, the group is lead in completely
improvised music performance; every moment
is free of preconceptions and is created
anew. When you enter the circle, you are
in a “Mistake-Free”
zone.
Where does it
come from?: Circlesongs is a
vocal musical form invented by 10-Time
Grammy-Award Winner Bobby McFerrin steeped
in an oral tradition that summons the
ancient magic of tribal gatherings. Many
tribes from around the world did something
similar to this. Bobby took this idea
and brought in his own unique vocal abilities
and his music training and conducting
skills and created Circlesinging.
As Bobby McFerrin explains,
"One of the simplest and most
direct ways of praying and meditating
is through singing and singing in community
is exceptionally powerful."
Each song created in the moment within
a Circlesinging experience becomes an
individual mantra. Circlesinging is akin
to a religious experience, providing the
participant the rare opportunity to witness
as well as participate in a musical celebration
of spontaneity.
