Bergamo-Hands On'Semble Songbook

Bergamo-Hands On'Semble Songbook - Product Information

This is a collection of compositions from the critically acclaimed CD's of the Hands On'Semble.

Hand On'Semble is a contemporary percussion quartet devoted to the art of hand drumming, led by renowned percussionist/composer John Bergamo. The group began in the fall of 1997 when it became apparent that there was a shared interest in many hand drumming styles from around the world, and that these four individuals found a common bond through the use of spoken drum languages.

Number of Players: 1-4 or more
Difficulty: Grade 4-6
Various Pieces
"Crevice" Instrumentation:

Gankogui (Double Bell)

Rattle

1-4 Djembes

Sogo (sub Conga)

"Deep Dun Dun" Instrumentation:

Tala

Congas

Sogo and Talking Drum

Djembe

"Easy Schlepp" Instrumentation:

1-4 Boomwhackers

Chang Chang (sub Hi-Hat)

Berimbau

"More Like Chutney" Instrumentation:

Jalatarang

Tabla

Doumbek

and Tar (Frame Drum)

"Piru Bole" Instrumentation:

Open Instrumentation for two or more players

"Shradhanjali" Instrumentation:

Ringing Metal Instruments (gongs, cymbals, etc)

Open Instrumentation

"Swimming to Alifbat" Instrumentation:

Open Instrumentation

"Turtle Talk" Instrumentation:

3 Drums which can produce high and low tones (Conga,Talking Drum, etc)

Large Cowbell

Cheng Cheng (sub Hi-Hat)

Finger Cymbals

"Wart Hog #3" Instrumentation:

Open Instrumentation which produces high, low, open and closed tones. (Drums, Wood, Metal, Cookware, etc)

"X-Mas in Goa" Instrumentation"

Pandeiro or Tabla

From his early days as a drummer in New Jersey, John Bergamo has never lost his desire to expand his interest in percussion. In 1959 John attended the Lenox School of Jazz in Lenox Mass. next door to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony. Under a scholarship, John studied drumset with Max Roach; had Percy Heath and Kenny Dorham as jazz band instructors; studied history and theory with Gunther Schuller, Marshall Stearns and George Russell; and was classmates with Ornette Coleman, and Don Cherry. In 1962 John earned an M.M. degree from Manhattan School of Music, followed by three summers in Tanglewood and time in New York City as a freelance musician.