Circlesongs

Last updated
Circlesongs
Circlesongs.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1, 1997
Studio The Hit Factory (New York, NY)
Genre Vocal jazz
Length42:29
Label Sony Classical
Producer Linda Goldstein
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Circlesongs is a 1997 studio album by American vocalist Bobby McFerrin, released by Sony Classical.

Contents

In 2018, McFerrin toured with his ensemble the Voicestra, performing material from Circlesongs, as well as improvisational works with audience improvisation encouraged. [2]

The music on the album is performed by "circle singing", an improvisational technique created by McFerrin in 1986. [3] In circle singing, a leader in a circle of singers directs one sub-group in the circle to sing an improvised musical part, and then the leader improvises another part for another sub-group to sing overlayed onto the first part, and so on until the whole circle is singing different improvised parts. The song evolves as the leader changes the improvisation for different groups. [4]

Track listing

  1. "Circlesong One" - 6:10
  2. "Circlesong Two" - 4:11
  3. "Circlesong Three" - 4:40
  4. "Circlesong Four" - 4:27
  5. "Circlesong Five" - 5:27
  6. "Circlesong Six" - 7:50
  7. "Circlesong Seven" - 4:57
  8. "Circlesong Eight" - 4:47

Personnel

Production

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References

  1. Circlesongs review, Allmusic
  2. What's it like to sing with Bobby McFerrin? 'Pure joy,' says Judi Vinar. MinnPost, June 13, 2018.
  3. Katharine Schwab (September 2, 2014). "Circle-singing leader embraces all voices". Seattle Times.
  4. Paola Munda (September 24, 2020). "Circle Singing: A Profile of Bobby McFerrin". casa.org. The Contemporary a Capella Society.