Circular breathing

Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.

It is used extensively in playing the Australian didgeridoo, the Sardinian launeddas and Egyptian arghul, as well as many traditional oboes and flutes of Asia and the Middle East. A few jazz and classical wind and brass players also utilize some form of circular breathing.

Although many professional wind players find circular breathing highly useful, few pieces of European orchestral music composed before the 20th century actually require its use. However, the advent of circular breathing among professional wind players has allowed for the transcription of pieces originally composed for string instruments which would be unperformable on a wind instrument without the aid of circular breathing. A notable example of this phenomenon is "Moto Perpetuo", transcribed for trumpet by Rafael Méndez from the original work for violin by Paganini.

In 1997, a Guiness World Record was set for longest held musical note. Kenny G used circular breathing to sustain an E-flat on a saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds.

Method

The person inhales fully and begins to exhale and blow. When the lungs are nearly empty, the last volume of air is blown into the mouth, and the cheeks are inflated with this air. Then, while still blowing this last bit of air out by squeezing the cheeks, the person must very quickly fill the lungs by inhaling through the nose prior to running out of the air in the mouth. If done correctly, by the time the air in the mouth is nearly exhausted the person can begin to exhale from the lungs once more, ready to repeat the process again. Essentially, circular breathing bridges the gap between breaths. The air stored in your cheeks is used as an extra air reserve to play with while you sneak in a breath through your nose.

Instruments with circular breathing integral to technique

• Alboka
• Algozay
• Arghul
• Didgeridoo
• Dizi
• Duduk
• Hornpipe
• Hom-Pax
• Kaval
• Kèn bầu
• Khlui
• Launeddas

• Limbe
• Mijwiz
• Mizmar
• Pi
• Practice chanter
• Pungi
• Shawm
• Sipsi
• Sralai
• Suling
• Suona
• Zurna

Musicians known for circular breathing

Some musicians who do not play the instruments mentioned above are known for using circular breathing.

• Ian Anderson - Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work in Jethro Tull
• Harry Carney, baritone saxophonist and clarinetist, prominent member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra
• Anthony Braxton - American saxophonist and composer
• Merlon Devine - Urban/Gospel Jazz saxophonist
• Bora Dugic - Serbian flautist and composer
• Herbie Flowers - Tuba - former member of Sky
• Martin Fröst - Swedish clarinetist
• Kenny G - American smooth jazz saxophonist
• Daniel Goode – avant-garde clarinetist
• Vladimir Kachmarchik - flute
• Nancy Ambrose King- Oboe
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk – jazz multi-instrumentalist
• Tanel Koho - Estonian saxophonist
• Travis LaPlante - Avant Garde musician
• Wynton Marsalis - classical and jazz trumpeter from New Orleans.
• Irvin Mayfield – Grammy Award-nominated jazz trumpeter, composer and cultural ambassador to New Orleans
• Rafael Méndez - Mexican virtuoso solo trumpeter
• Roscoe Mitchell – jazz multi-instrumentalist
• David Murray- Plays tenor saxophone and, on occasion, bass clarinet
• Sergei Nakariakov - classical trumpeter
• Quinn Pariseau- Trumpeter and composer
• Evan Parker - free improvising saxophonist noted for his lengthy circular breathing excursions on soprano and tenor saxophones
• Brad Pauley-trombonist
• Eugene Rousseau – classical saxophonist
• Xavier Rudd - modern one-man band
• Andy Sheppard - jazz saxophonist from Bristol England.
• Colin Stetson- saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist
• Jaap Stotijn - Dutch musician; solo oboist with the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague and with the French Opera in Paris
• Clark Terry - Jazz Trumpet and Fluglehorn player and educator. Author of Clark Terry's System of Circular Breathing.
• Ken Vandermark – American saxophonist, improviser and composer
• Kim Wilson - American blues harmonica player
• Canibus (Germaine Williams) - Jamaican-American rapper
• Trombone Shorty (Troy Anderson) - Tromboner and Trumpeter from New Orleans

Bibliography

• Dick R. Circular breathing for the flutist. — New York, 1987
• Dury S. Die Zikularatmung auf der Flöte. Zimmermann. Frankfurt, 1992
• Fischer J. Vom Traum der Unendlichkeit oder Versuch einer Anleitung zur Zirkularatmung für Blockflötisten // Tibia. — 1993. — Heft 1. — S. 346–35
• Katchmarschik V. Some Mysteries of Ancient Greek Aulets // Journal Internationale Double Reed Society. – 1994, July. – № 22, – Р. 93 – 99. http://www.idrs.org/publications/controlled/DR/JNL22/JNL22.Kachmarchik.html
• Katschmartschik W. Zur Geschichte und zur Entstehung der Methode des «permanenten Ausatmen» // Brass Bulletin. – 1989. – № 67. – S. 32-35.(en. ger. fr.) http://www.editions-bim.com/store/brass-bulletin-archives-1986-1990/brass-bulletin-no-67-iii-1989-2042.html
• Katschmartschik W. Zur Etwicklungsgeschichte der Permanentatmung // Tibia. – 1993. – Heft 1. – S. 346-351. http://www.moeck.com/cms/index.php?id=271
• Katschmartschik W. Permanent exhalation (PA) in wind instruments performing technique (problems of history and physiology). Dissert. Kiev. State Music Acad. 1995.
• Kynaston P. Trent. Circular breathing. Studio Publ. // Recordings
• Nicolet A. Studien zum Spielen Neuer Musik. Pro musica nova. — Gerig, Köln, 1973

External links

• iDIDJ Australia: Australian Didgeridoo Cultural Hub
• Circular breathing for harmonica
• Learning circular breathing
• The Circular Breathing - Launeddas
• How to do circular breathing on saxophone
• Kenny G Circular Breathing Lesson at YouTube
• Young woman demonstrating circular breathing technique while playing didgeridoo in Carcassonne France at YouTube in HD