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 blowing 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 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. A notable exception is "Moto Perpetuo" as transcribed by Rafael Méndez from Paganini. Trumpeters playing this piece must have full control of their circular breathing in order to play the piece as intended.

Saxophonist Kenny G is perhaps the world's most famous circular breather, setting a world record for holding a single note for more than 45 minutes.^[1] This record was nearly doubled by Costa Rican saxophonist Geovanny Escalante less than a year later.^[2]

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 allowing the cheeks to deflate, 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.

Physiologically, the process is similar to drinking at a water fountain and taking a breath of air while water remains in the mouth, without raising the head from the water stream. The body "knows" to not allow water into the lungs. It is this same instinct that a circular breather uses to play their instrument.^{[citation needed]}

One learning technique is to try puff out the cheeks with mouth closed using only air drawn in through the nose.

Instruments having circular breathing as an integral part of their technique

Musicians known for circular breathing

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

• Djivan Gasparyan - Armenian duduk musician and composer
• Daniel Goode – avant-garde clarinetist^[3]
• Jeff Coffin – jazz musician best known as a saxophonist but also plays clarinet and flute. Is a member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk – jazz multi-instrumentalist^[4]
• Roscoe Mitchell – jazz multi-instrumentalist^[5]
• Hamiet Bluiett - American jazz and avant garde baritone saxophonist
• David Murray- Plays tenor saxophone and, on occasion, bass clarinet^[6]
• James Carter – saxophonist, flautist, and bass clarinetist
• Irvin Mayfield – Grammy Award-nominated jazz trumpeter, composer and cultural ambassador to New Orleans^[7]
• Evan Parker – saxophone player
• Lenny Pickett – saxophone player with the 1970s funk band Tower of Power^{[citation needed]} and SNL band
• Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophonist
• Kenny G – American saxophonist
• Bruce Fowler - American jazz Trombonist and composer, best known for his work with Frank Zappa
• John Surman – baritone and soprano saxophonist^{[citation needed]}
• Jimmy Owens (jazz) – trumpet player^{[citation needed]}
• John Zorn – avant-garde saxophonist and composer
• Peter Zummo – avant-garde trombonist
• Femi Kuti – Afrobeat and jazz saxophonist^{[citation needed]}
• Mark Pender – jazz trumpeter^{[citation needed]}
• Wynton Marsalis – classical and jazz trumpeter
• Rafael Méndez - Mexican virtuoso solo trumpeter
• Dan Regan – trombonist in the ska punk band, Reel Big Fish
• Harry Carney - baritone saxophonist with Duke Ellington's Orchestra
• Paul Hanson - American jazz bassoonist
• David Krakauer - Clarinetist^{[citation needed]}
• Ian Clarke - flautist and composer

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
• How to circular breathe on the harmonica with video example

References

1. ^ News on Yahoo! Music
2. ^ Reuters (via recordholders.org)
3. ^ "Daniel Goode: About". Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
4. ^ University of Chicago
5. ^ "Roscoe Mitchell Interview". Perfect Sound Forever (May 1998). Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
6. ^ BBC Radio 3 profile
7. ^ "Irvin Mayfield: Hombre of Hot Music and Vital Education". AllAboutJazz.com (2004-08-30). Retrieved on 2008-06-26.