Circlesongs

{{Infobox album

| name = Circlesongs

| type = studio

| artist = Bobby McFerrin

| cover = Circlesongs.jpg|border=yes

| alt =

| released = April 1, 1997

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = The Hit Factory (New York, NY)

| genre = Vocal jazz

| length = {{Duration|m=42|s=29}}

| label = Sony Classical

| producer = Linda Goldstein

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{{album reviews

|rev1=Allmusic

|rev1Score={{rating|4|5}} [https://www.allmusic.com/album/circlesongs-mw0000097604 Circlesongs review], Allmusic

}}

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

In 2018, McFerrin toured with his ensemble the Voicestra, performing material from Circlesongs, as well as improvisational works with audience improvisation encouraged.[https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2018/06/whats-it-sing-bobby-mcferrin-pure-joy-says-judi-vinar What's it like to sing with Bobby McFerrin? 'Pure joy,' says Judi Vinar]. MinnPost, June 13, 2018.

The music on the album is performed by "circle singing", an improvisational technique created by McFerrin in 1986.{{cite news |author=Katharine Schwab |title=Circle-singing leader embraces all voices |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/circle-singing-leader-embraces-all-voices/ |date=September 2, 2014 |newspaper=Seattle Times}} 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.{{cite web |author=Paola Munda |title=Circle Singing: A Profile of Bobby McFerrin |url=https://casa.org/circle-singing-a-profile-of-bobby-mcferrin/ |date=September 24, 2020 |website=casa.org |publisher=The Contemporary a Capella Society}}