In Circular Motion

Shots taken at the Circlesongs jamming session at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. (Photos taken by Pang Khee Teik). Come and watch our show at The Actors Studio Bangsar, Oct 1 and Oct 2, 2007! More info on the show here. Call up our ticket contacts, or just turn up at Actors Studio by 8pm! More info about Circlesongs here.

More photos coming up soon. Members of the audience at Central Market - send us your photos! :)

More on Circlesongs

World-famous vocal innovator and improviser Bobby McFerrin created this concept to explore choral improvisations in his performances. Together with Voicestra, a group he founded with singers from classical, jazz and theatre backgrounds, he brings to the musical world a dynamic solo and group vocal explorations through Circlesongs.

The music is entirely improvised on the spot and captures everything in the performance: the day, the time, the theatre, the audience. Any spontaneous sound creation goes through a rhythmic repetition, thus springing songs of circular shape and chant-like structure. There are no words, since language limitations only create separation between listeners. McFerrin always felt that singing a song without words makes one song a thousand songs because the people who hear it can bring their own stories to it. The creation of Circlesongs grew out of his deeply held belief that “one of the simplest and most direct ways of praying and meditating is through singing, and singing in community is exceptionally powerful. You get people together in a room and get them singing, and you instantly knock down all the walls – creed, gender, age and race differences, everything. You’re all one at that point, lifting your voices”.

And so, universal sounds that express joy and gratitude, chants drawing inspirations from all religious traditions yet are strictly nondenominational, spontaneous musical stream of consciousness . . . allow us to share our spiritual connection (without being defined by any single spiritual path) with you and together we celebrate a communion of singing and music.

The Philharmonic Society of Selangor invites you to experience the nuances of Circlesongs in its latest production, in aid of the Independent Pet Rescuers Malaysia.

Adapted from Barbara Graham, Theodore Levin and Jonathan Goldman, programme writers for Bobby McFerrin’s Circlesongs album (Sony SK62734). For more information, do visit http://www.sony.com/ & http://www.bobbymcferrin.com/

About The Phil

Founded in 1958, The Philharmonic Society of Selangor, or The Phil as it is affectionately known, is one of the oldest and most established music societies in Malaysia. The Phil counts among its successes productions like The Sound of Music, The King & I and Guys & Dolls, as well as classical offerings such as Rutter’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation and Orff’s Carmina Burana and contemporary treats including Music from Movies and Musicals and In The Mood. The society also organises regular workshops to provide education in the performing arts through its Theatre Education Programme. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008, The Phil aims to continue to provide accessible opportunities for learning, producing and presenting quality performances in the performing arts through fellowship, fun activities and education.


About Independent Pet Rescuers Malaysia

Independent Pet Rescuers Malaysia (IPR) is a group of volunteers committed to the rescuing and re-homing of stray, abused and abandoned animals, and facilitating their adoption by foster volunteers. Its members also strive to educate the public on the need for compassion for stray, abused and abandoned animals to prevent them from being put down unnecessarily. In keeping with its strict ‘no-kill’ policy, it hopes to be able to build a halfway house for rescued animals as a temporary sanctuary before they are re-homed. IPR relies entirely on the goodwill of volunteers and the generosity of the public to run and fund its activities. The Phil’s proceeds from Circlesongs will be dedicated to the inspiring and noble work of IPR.

IPR operates an adoption booth at a corner in Plaza Damas, Kuala Lumpur (same row as Starbucks at Hartamas Shopping Centre, opposite BT Computers) every Saturday from 1pm to 6pm. Website: http://rescue2rehome.blogspot.com/

Circlesongs - Get Your Tickets Now!

The Philharmonic Society of Selangor presents

CIRCLESONGS

Oct 1 & 2, 2007, 8:30 pm, The Actors Studio Bangsar

• Choral Improvisation • Dynamic Vocal Exploration • Rhythmic Energy • Universal Sounds • Musical Celebration of Spontaneity •

It's choral jamming without reliance on music scores, with no lyrics to remember, and with no rehearsed choreography to fumble about.

It's just us, a bunch of singing musicians, creating spontaneous musical moments through group vocal exploration and improvisation.

Come and share our tribute to an oral tradition of communal singing!

Artistic direction by Melvin Ho

In aid of Independent Pet Rescuers Malaysia

Admission by minimum donation of RM30 /
RM20 (students)

Tickets: Zalina Lee (012 320 8090) /
Melvin Ho (012 303 7184)

*There will be a free Circlesong jamming session at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur on Sat 22 Sept and Sat 29 Sept 2007, 12pm-1pm. Do drop by!*

http://www.thephil.org.my/

http://selangorphil.blogspot.com/

Drawing Circles

Snapshots of recent Circlesong rehearsals (more coming in the next post!)

The Warm-Up..

The Circle....

Melvin, In Whom We Shall Trust!

More photos in the next blogpost!

Circlesong will be performed at The Actors Studio Bangsar on Oct 1st and 2nd 2007.

Tickets will be available for sale soon. Watch this space!

What Is Circlesong?

A concept conceived by Bobby McFerrin, Circlesong is a free and spontaneous music making session that incorporates the human voice & body percussion. Anyone can participate, with or without musical training. Circlesong sessions aim to develop a higher awareness of listening to one's innate musical instinct, to be able to express spontaneous musical improvisations through the human body, and gives people the opportunity to sing in a choral environment without needing to know how to read music.

About Melvin Ho (Artistic Director)

Melvin Ho is a music graduate of the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA), formerly known as Akademi Seni Kebangsaan (ASK). He has been a member of the Selangor Philharmonic Society Choir since 1997. He also sings and arranges music for Dhammaduta Youth (D2Y), a local Buddhist performing group that sings a cappella Buddhist hymns. In 2005, he completed a teaching certificate foundation course in Speech and Drama at the Crestar Learning Centre. Melvin appeared in Gardner and Wife's production of "Something Funny Happened On The Way To The Forum" (2002) and performed in Rhythm In Bronze's "Monkey Business" (2005) produced by Five Arts Centre, which earned him a nomination for Best Composition in the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2005. His last major performance was in Saidah Rastam's "M! The Opera" which premiered in Istana Budaya last year. He occasionally guest performs and arranges music for some local a cappella and choir groups. He currently works as a school choir coach and teaches music in Kinderland D'Shire, Kota Damansara. He has his own youth choir called Navaswara, that rehearses weekly at the Living Arts Studio.