We'll be gathering OUTSIDE and IN PERSON on Oct 16th
Use this link to register and get instructions and the address: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-songtaneous-tickets-357357314347
Sarah M. Greer has been conducting Songtaneous sessions in the Twin Cities since 2006. Songtaneous sessions are community singing events. Based on Bobby McFerrin’s “Voicestra” and Sarah’s own work with vocal artist Rhiannon, we join together to create spontaneous songs. Sarah creates and assigns vocal parts to sections of a circle of singers. The environment is a relaxed and playful.
Currently, Sarah hosts Songtaneous events one SATURDAY a the month. Aimed at music lovers who want a low-key and fun way to sing without joining a choir or committing to a lot of rehearsals, these sessions are fun, inventive and easy way to sing with others.
Singing is an important expressive, spiritual and rejuvenating activity to which many of us lose access as we get busier in our lives. Songtaneous provides opportunities to explore singing with others and playing with the voice in a supportive environment. Songtaneous is not a rehearsal or a performance – it’s about being present and in community through song.
As we prepared to film, police killed Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. The discussions we had before and during our singing were deep, painful, and necessary. We recognized the balm of gathering as Black artists/singers to express and experience our reactions alongside the challenge of authentically experiencing these emotions while being watched/filmed. We began to envision singing together in places of wounding around the city.
In September of 2021, we were awarded a grant to create a Community Healing project through the city’s Creative Response Fund.
With this support, we serenaded places in Minneapolis.
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Powderhorn Park
“Anything healing that happens in the park ripples out and invites us to know ourselves, our nature and each other better.”
Clockwise: Kashimana, Kenna, Sarah, Jayanthi, Libby around picnic table, people in the park, J and S listening to Miré and Sistet, Sistet by a tree, PIE!
We held our final serenade as folks were readying the space for the 10 year Poetry & Pie event in Powderhorn park. We gathered around a picnic table off to the side to “set the stage” for this community event. Singer-songwriter Kashimana joined us.
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“Powderhorn Park is the heart of the Powderhorn community. It was a site of pain and activism, community organizing, and public engagement during and after the Uprising. Powderhorn Park is the place we center and recognize ourselves as community. Anything healing that happens in the park ripples out and invites us to know ourselves, our nature and each other better.”
“For me today the sky set the tone for the day. I felt free and loved and grateful to be with my Sistet family. After such a long trip to get here, the serenading felt like it spoke to all my wounds and worn out places.”
“We did what need to be done. My favorite part was making the loops with Kashimana.”
“I was in need of healing today. Feeling exhausted and violated. Then my Sistahs took up my burden and sang to and for me and we found the way through and the bag came back. “
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Juneteenth Serenades – North and Uptown Minneapolis
“The energy from these healing sessions reaches farther into the community than we thought.”
Black Bold Brilliant perform at sumner library, Mankwe and Voices of Culture at Uptown Juneteenth, Juneteenth Sidewalk message, Mankwe, Jayanthi and Sarah at bridge for youth celebration uptown, Jayanthi prepares some notes, Auntie Beverly tells some of the stories of Juneteenth, Yonci introduces Voice of Culture.
We joined folks celebrating Juneteenth at Sumner Library and sang to our community and our ancestors. Later, as we sang together at the Bridge for Youth Juneteenth event in uptown, a young volunteer at one of the tables at the event asked to sing with us.
“We noticed the power of our intentions and the spaces we make for ourselves.”
“Windy and then hot We gave it all that we’d got Which is really quite a lot.”
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North High
When we were thinking of places to serenade, we decided we especially wanted to sing to and for the young folks at North Community High School who have had such a painful year.
(No vids ’cause they kids.)
“Love songs to teens who giggled and said we sounded amazing. Improv in the science wing. Loving on the super mad dude.”
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North Commons
“So many ways to occupy a space …”
We incorporated an online session (and an Instagram Live) into this Serenade, which included guest artist Tamiko French (@Soulspeak_Expressions) as wells a couple of guests from other states. We came together to be together in community. We used our voices, moved our bodies and left the painting of the heart in the park when we took our leave.
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“Missing my people. Loving my Northside. Adding my tears to others’, lifting up energy for healing and grace, expressing ourselves audibly, visibly, and spiritually — as we serenade and petition for wholeness — outside, with nature.”
“So many ways to occupy a space — even from hundreds of miles away. Thank you all for letting me join you in a healing morning.”
“Gathered under a soft gray sky with bare feet on the ground. Connecting across the miles. Sistahs and smiles and sounds and songs. MJ and memories and good times. Leaving our heart(s) there. Soft rain after to help the healing grow.”
Clockwise: Jayanthi (painting), Kenna, Alicia (playing) and Sarah (writing)
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Pillsbury Theater
“On today, the Sistet gathered at the site of an importantly devastating piece of art ‘performed’ by loved ones to sing and pray on that place.”
We gathered in the early morning to serenade the outdoor diorama (stage) for What to Send Up When it Goes Down* before they began their second run.
Part ritual and part theatrical experience, What to Send Up When It Goes Down is a fiercely innovative play that sets out to disrupt the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness and rejoice in the resilience of Black People throughout history. Using monologues, scenes, songs and discussion the play offers space for examination, reflection and ultimately a cathartic cleansing of harm caused by anti-Blackness that permeates us all.
We recognized and wanted to support the enormous and difficult healing work our community members were enacting as they presented that particular play at that time in that space. (Pillsbury Theater is only blocks from George Floyd Square.)
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“The Sistet blessed the altar with music and movement, and blessed the ritual makers with talismans and prayer.” — Aimee
“Heard the stage/alter “over here, this way” – we followed. The sky opened up a clear view, I arched my back, felt big, small and peaceful. The seal is cracked, space is warmed up now.” — Alicia
“My partner carried out the design of Uncle Seitu Jones diorama. We studied some symbols that we agreed would support the family (the Black thespians) that is carrying out this hard, beautiful piece. May it “ground” and support. So he added these symbols last night before the Sistet continued to bless support and protect, benediction & ready the space.” — Jayanthi
“Alicia and A were there when I arrived. The space felt quiet and still and the early morning light was sweetly illuminating faces and the space. Then Kenna and Aimee, then Mankwe arrived; we greeted and hugged. A received incense training from Alicia and Kenna. We formed a circle and sang “I Remember, I Believe” (during which Aimee and I shed some tears). We began singing and moving thru the space individually, yet connected. We talked about warrior spirits and space/time to fight. The Pillsbury folks began to arrive. We greeted and assisted in small ways and then took our leaves.” — Sarah
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Acknowledgements
Funding is provided by The Creative Response Fund, a program of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in the City of Minneapolis and also in part by The Kresge Foundation.
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ABOUT SONGTANEOUS
Songtaneous is where spontaneous singing happens. One Saturday a month, creative people of all ages gather to share their voices and their selves while making beautiful, in-the-moment music.
Designed for creative people and music lovers looking for a low-key and fun way to sing together without joining a choir or committing to a lot of rehearsals, Songtaneous Sings are a fun, inventive and easy way to sing with others.
No previous experience necessary.
$15 Suggested donation. If you'd like to support this Songtaneous session (and me! *smile*), you can make a donation at https://sarahmgreer.com/tipjar (Thank you!)
