RECORDINGS:
Calliope Dances: a Renaissance revel.
Nonesuch 9 79039-2, p1982.
PERFORMERS: Calliope, a Renaissance band: Lucy Bardo, Lawrence Benz, Allan Dean, Ben Harms.
CONTENTS: Works by Praetorius; Pierre Attaignant; Henry VIII of England ; Francisco de la Torre; Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro; and Heinrich Isaac.
DOUGLASS COMPACT DISC CX17
Calliope Festival: an Italian Renaissance revel.
Nonesuch 79069 , p1984.
PERFORMERS: Calliope.
CONTENTS: Works by: Anonymous, Donato de Florentia , Giovanni da Cascia , Gherardello de Florentia, Diego Ortiz, Sebastian Festa, Francesco Bendusi , Giovanni Battista Grillo, Pierre Phalese, Girolamo Farabosco, and Adriano Banchieri .
DOUGLASS PHONODISC DMds 10251
Calliope Swings – Jazz, Rags and Blues
Xylophone, Hand Drums, Recorders, Sackbutts, Crumhorns, Viols & Schwams! Hot Picks of the Month 1. “Calliope Dances. A Renaissance Revel”
– Playboy Magazine
“The superb ensemble Calliope consists of four musicians who sing and play their hearts out…”
– San Francisco Chronicle
Ben Harm’s amazes with his hand drumming virtuosity and unique stylings of captivating solo xylophone with Renaissance Band arrangements of George Hamilton Green’s Log Cabin Blues, Jovial Jasper, Cross Corners, and Rainbow Ripples.
VIDEO:
Basic Technique for Hand Drum and Tambourine
with Ben Harms
Here is a well-organized instructional videotape and notebook for drummers of all experiences and backgrounds. It begins with the instructions on how to hold the instruments and then demonstrates, step-by-step, the various sounds made with the fingers and hands. After working on basic duple and triple patterns the student learns some catchy rhythms. There follows some intermediate studies with standard meters of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 beats as well as the more unusual 5 and 7 beats. The tape goes on to illustrate some advanced techniques and Rhythmic Diminution, the basis of drumming improvisation in India. Diddle the Doum, a 3 1/2-minute solo using rhythms inspired by the traditional stick-drummer’s Paradiddle, concludes the tape.
Duration: 1 hour
Includes 16-page Notebook
Price: $39.95
For more information about Ben Harms’ video and other percussion products,
Click here to visit Harms Historical Percussion on the web
Ben Harms has been playing hand drum and tambourine for over twenty years with the Calliope Renaissance Band and other ensembles. He has made numerous recordings and teaches workshops and private students. In addition to performing with Calliope, Mr. Harms is a percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and timpanist with many modern and period orchestras.
Check out a recent recording of Calliope with Ben Harms, Calliope Swings.