POLYPHONIC SONGS FROM AFRICA

Free the Voice

with Gino SITSON

An internationally recognised virtuoso, Gino Sitson is originally from Cameron, but now lives in New York and presents workshops the world over. His family comes from a long line of musicians known as Ntontas ‘horn players’, and his mother is a singer and choir director. As a researcher and musicologist, he works on musical cognition, on the expressive properties of the voice and the process of musical transmission in the ‘black’ diaspora. His musical project innovatively combines jazz, gospel, blues and African polyphonies. In 2008, at the invitation of Bobby McFerrin, he participated in a documentary on the scientific analysis of the voice as well as in his production ‘Instant Opera’, which was performed at Carnegie Hall.

In this workshop he leads an exploration of African polyphonies and polyrhythms, presents an approach to body rhythms, and moves towards vocal improvisation through circle singing, a practice popularised by Bobby McFerrin. Some facility in singing is recommended for getting the most out of this workshop.