weaving Voices 01.04.2025 issuu - Flipbook - Page 56
Creative space in a natural setting
Wendela Löfquist
Introduction
The workshop Kulning Heritage took place in the woods of Unnaryd,
Sweden, in June 2023. It was hosted by Marika Wittmar and Wendela
Löfquist, both singers and musicians representing the local cultural
organisation Solsidans Kulturförening. The main intention of the
week was to guide the Weaving Voices participants in exploring the
cultural heritage and the practice of kulning, a Scandinavian herding
call technique.
Though the focus of our week was for participants to learn the basics
of a specific voice technique, we found that our workshop’s main
contribution to the project was in fact something else. In both the
preparation and the actual execution of the workshop, the aspect
that we as hosts gave the most thought to, was how to facilitate a
learning environment where participants could dare to experiment
with herding calls. This technique, new to the participants, with its
unusual and expressive character can make one feel quite vulnerable.
Thus, the aim of this chapter is to discuss how one can create a
space for learning where people feel comfortable exploring their
boundaries related to voice. We will also reflect on how working
outside in natural habitats contributed to the learning process and
wellbeing of the group, as we found that the natural setting for
our workshop contributed to its value as a whole. Furthermore, the
chapter provides a brief historical context of the kulning tradition,
historical sound and image samples, as well as examples of exercises
you can use to approach this specific vocal form.
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