Drum circle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A drum circle is any group of people of any age playing (usually) hand-drums and percussion in a circle. Other instruments and dance are also incorporated into the drum circle. In Western countries, drum circles have come to be associated with Hippie counterculture.
Recently the term has also been used to designate a particular form of drum circle: a facilitated drum circle. A facilitated drum circle is a facilitated jam. Drums and/or percussion are handed out or already in place, and people come not to 'learn to drum' but simply to have fun playing together. The facilitator guides and encourages the participants to create exciting in-the-moment music. Some traditionalists frown on this practice.
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[edit] Professional drum circle performers
Babatunde Olatunji was a drum circle artist from the 1960's until his passing in 2003. He worked with many major artists, including John Coltrane, Carlos Santana, Taj Mahal and the Grateful Dead. He earned a Grammy nomination from his 1997 album Love Drum Talk.[1]
Arthur Hull is another recognized drum circle advocate[2], as is Zorina Wolf, a student of Babatunde.
See also the Drum Circle Facilitator's Guild for a list of other performers [3].
[edit] Solstice Drum Circles
Summer Solstice Drum circles are growing throughout the world and many of the participants are of various faiths. The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest daylight period and hence the shortest night. Winter Solstice drum circles are also growing in popularity. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. These Winter Solstice drum circles are often referred to as "Drumming up the Sun", and will frequently begin before dawn, making for one of the coldest drum circles of the year.
[edit] Neopaganism
Neopagans have created another type of drum circle. At Neopagan festivals, people gather around a large bonfire, the drummers generally sitting on one side to encourage better listening. The musicians sit together and play while dancers dance and circle around the fire. Often, those present will stay and play throughout the night until dawn, treating the evening as a magical (or alchemical) working. Sound is not limited to drumming alone; there is also chanting, singing, poetry, and spoken word pieces. This type of drum circle is not usually facilitated.
[edit] Ta Ke Ti Na
Ta Ke Ti Na is a movement started by Austrian musician Reinhard Flatischler in 1970, which attempts to incorporate drum circles, dance and other instrumentation with spiritualist aims.[4]
[edit] References
- Soul Craft by Bill Plotkin (Ref. Forgotten Power of Rhythm Ta Ke TI Na)
- Play Sing Dance by Doug Goodkin
- The Art and Heart of Drum Circle by Christine Stevens
- The Forgotten Power of Rhythm by Reinhard Flatischler’s
- Returning to Health:With Dance, Movement & Imagery by Anna Halprin (Ref. Forgotten Power of Rhythm Ta Ke TI Na)
