2008 Woodie Awards
Del. residents feel the beat of a cultural circle
Allison Heany
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Mosaic
In Delaware, pastimes are limited. Students may participate in yoga, Pilates or tennis, but drum circling isn't typically an activity which comes to mind.
Drum circling is a form of percussive self-expression that is becoming a local favorite. It's a type of rhythmic drumming inspired by indigenous cultures from around the world.
Although more organized drum circles exist, the drum circles popular in Newark tend to be "anarchic" or impromptu circles with no designated leader.
Junior Anna Turley, a music major at the university, describes a local drum circle she witnessed at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark.
Turley says a random person, usually someone with experience, begins the circle and establishes percussive dominance. The drummers continue playing until the drumming fades out.
"What's so interesting about these circles is the fight for dominance," Turley says. "You can feel these rivalries between players. At the same time, you can feel when players are really in sync with each other. It's almost primal."
According to Turley, the sound produced by the anarchic drum circle is not designed to be pleasing to the ear.
"It's not performance music," Turley says. "It's meditative."
Lynn "LynxCat" Neal, the director of drum circling for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark, agrees.
"I've been involved in drum circling for about 15 years," Neal says. "It's like spiritual therapy. It's just a great way of getting out of your head and into your body."
Neal's drum circling is geared toward the anarchic model.
"I do improvisational drumming. Some kinds of drum circles are specific in what they do and how they do it, but for me it's more of an open drum session. It's completely spontaneous."
Neal says drumming is a spiritual, cathartic experience that helps to eliminate many of the stresses people build up during their daily lives.
The fellowship's drum circles are usually made up of a mix of regulars and curious locals.
Drum circling is a form of percussive self-expression that is becoming a local favorite. It's a type of rhythmic drumming inspired by indigenous cultures from around the world.
Although more organized drum circles exist, the drum circles popular in Newark tend to be "anarchic" or impromptu circles with no designated leader.
Junior Anna Turley, a music major at the university, describes a local drum circle she witnessed at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark.
Turley says a random person, usually someone with experience, begins the circle and establishes percussive dominance. The drummers continue playing until the drumming fades out.
"What's so interesting about these circles is the fight for dominance," Turley says. "You can feel these rivalries between players. At the same time, you can feel when players are really in sync with each other. It's almost primal."
According to Turley, the sound produced by the anarchic drum circle is not designed to be pleasing to the ear.
"It's not performance music," Turley says. "It's meditative."
Lynn "LynxCat" Neal, the director of drum circling for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark, agrees.
"I've been involved in drum circling for about 15 years," Neal says. "It's like spiritual therapy. It's just a great way of getting out of your head and into your body."
Neal's drum circling is geared toward the anarchic model.
"I do improvisational drumming. Some kinds of drum circles are specific in what they do and how they do it, but for me it's more of an open drum session. It's completely spontaneous."
Neal says drumming is a spiritual, cathartic experience that helps to eliminate many of the stresses people build up during their daily lives.
The fellowship's drum circles are usually made up of a mix of regulars and curious locals.
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