Are there “instrumental circles” that are like singing circles?
Yes. The ones that are closest in spirit to singing circles are drumming circles. Musicians of many kinds engage in “sessions” with their peers. In our opinion, a lot of public music (particularly improvised jazz) feels like the musicians on stage are interacting with themselves in front of an audience who does not participate in the experience at all, except as a witness or observer of the phenomenon. Another thing we’ve noticed is that while many instrumentalist sessions are nominally “open to all comers”, most assume a reasonable competency level will be present among its participants. Irish pub sessions (called seisiun in Gaelic or a ceili, pronounced kay-lee when it includes dancing and storytelling) and garage bands are another example. While the musos involved often claim their reason for coming together is to rehearse for that elusive “big gig”, we realise it’s the joy of simply making music together that keeps them coming back. That’s why CMV focuses on singing circles and the
