MOONDOG:
On The Keys
Directed & Performed By: Julian Calv
Calv Social Media & Spotify
A concert featuring piano works, vocal canons, and other arranged compositions by minimalist/neo-classical composer Moondog; performed by trimbist/vocalist Julian Calv, pianist Alex Stewart, and vocalist/percussionist Sarah Penna. Louis Hardin AKA Moondog composed music creating an unexpected link between the resurgent science of counterpoint, Arapaho, Navajo, Blackfoot, and Sioux rhythms and song forms, the art of jazz improvisation, and the beginnings of a repetitive and minimalist aesthetic. The concert spans Moondog’s career with selections from The Last Concert, Moondog: Piano Trimba, In Europe, A New Sound Of An Old Instrument, Moondog (1956); and includes background about the music from Julian- who studied with Moondog’s only student, Stefan Lakatos.
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juliancalvmusic@gmail.com / 908 - 455 - 1331
Letter of Recommendation, Bowerbird, Philadelphia, PA
To Whom It May Concern,
I am the managing director at Bowerbird, a concert presenting organization in Philadelphia, and I am writing to recommend Julian Calv and his ensemble. In November 2024 they presented Moondog on the Keys, a program of Louis Hardin’s compositions which are rarely heard live. The concert attracted an audience of approximately 100 people. The trio’s performance explored a diverse range of Moondog’s works including vocal rounds, piano solos, and original works by Julian based on Hardin’s compositional techniques. The ensemble's deep commitment to Moondog’s distinctive style and music was evident throughout the performance. At Bowerbird, we have presented four concerts of Moondog’s music over the last few years, each of which has been met with enthusiasm by audiences ranging from 75 to 200 people. Although Moondog’s work may not be widely known to the general public, there is a dedicated and appreciative fanbase that actively seeks out his music. I wholeheartedly recommend Julian Calv and his ensemble. They have proven themselves to be passionate, talented, and dedicated to preserving and interpreting Moondog’s unique artistic legacy.
Sincerely,
Andy Thierauf
Managing Director, Bowerbird
Performance History
Summer 2024
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Silver Lake State Park, Barnard, VT
November 2024
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The Phoenix Gallery, Waterbury, VT
June 2025
September/October 2025
November 2025
MOONDOG: On The Keys
A concert featuring piano works, vocal canons, and other songs by the minimalist/neo-classical composer Moondog performed by trimbist/vocalist Julian Calv, pianist Alex Stewart, and vocalist/percussionist Sarah Penna. Louis Hardin AKA Moondog composed music creating an unexpected link between the resurgent science of counterpoint, Arapaho, Navajo, Blackfoot, and Sioux rhythms and song forms, the art of jazz improvisation, and the beginnings of a repetitive and minimalist aesthetic. The concert spans Moondog’s career with selections from The Last Concert, Moondog: Piano Trimba, In Europe, A New Sound Of An Old Instrument, Moondog (1956); and includes background about the music from Julian- who studied with Moondog’s only student, Stefan Lakatos. The concert commonly features guest musicians who expand on the core trio.
Julian Calv
Julian Calv is an American composer, singer, and trimbist. Born February 18 1999 in New Brunswick, NJ, Julian grew up in Bethlehem Township, NJ. He graduated from Moravian University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Music focusing on composition, education, and classical piano. While there he studied piano with Barbara Thompson and Dan DeChellis. In 2021 he completed an independent study of 20th c. American composer Louis T. Hardin, AKA Moondog's, creative life. Throughout the course of this impactful project he established an apprenticeship with Stefan Lakatos.
Self proclaimed as Moondog’s grand-student, Julian is the sole prodigy of Stefan Lakatos– who is “the leading [and only] exponent of the Moondog method of drumming.” Quote Moondog himself. Calv traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, in 2022 to meet Stefan and understand this tradition first hand. Through both this mentorship and dedicated study of Moondog's creative life, he upholds Louis’ dying wish to “please take care of my music.” Following Stefan's death in 2023, Julian continued 2024 with projects featuring solely the music of Moondog and himself.
Non Prophets, a vocal sextet established by Calv, performed and recorded (unreleased) a private concert for the incarcerated at the Southern State Correctional Facility in July 2024. In August 2024 their Concert at Epsilon Spires, VT, was recorded by Brattleboro Community TV. Trimbtych, Calv’s instrumental ensemble, opened for Non Prophets at this concert. Calv’s first digital LP, Nonstop Motion, released in November 2024. Following its release Calv’s concert MOONDOG: On The Keys played Philadelphia, PA, Brattleboro, VT, and Waterbury, VT.
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Louis T. Hardin (Moondog)
Louis Hardin was an American composer, musician, performer, music theoretician, poet and inventor of musical instruments. Largely self-taught as a composer he composed music with an unexpected link between the resurgent science of counterpoint, Arapaho, Navajo, Blackfoot, and Sioux rhythms and song forms, the art of jazz improvisation, and the beginnings of a repetitive and minimalist aesthetic. His strongly rhythmic, contrapuntal pieces and arrangements were recognized by Igor Stravinsky and other contemporaries; and influenced American minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
Due to an accident, Moondog was blind from the age of 16. He lived in New York City from the late 1940s until 1974, during which time he was often found on Sixth Avenue, between 52nd and 55th Streets, selling records, composing, and performing poetry. He briefly appeared in a cloak and horned helmet during the 1960s and was hence recognized as "the Viking of Sixth Avenue" by passersby and residents who were not aware of his musical career.
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Alex Stewart
Alex Stewart is a musician, architect, and man about town. This year's musical projects include: Darkness to Light, a recital in January with violinist Charlotte Perkins. In April 2024, he led the Kearsarge Community Band in regional premieres of Carmen Fantasy for Symphonic Band (Bizet/Suzuki) and Howl's Moving Castle Fantasy (Hisaishi/Kojima). He’s played in “MOONDOG: On The Keys” since November 2024.
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Sarah Penna
Sarah Penna is a dynamic artist who feels most at home deep in the intersection of education, the arts, and the natural world. She synergizes her love of Nature, Music, and Community in all corners of her life, professionally and personally. With her heart and eyes wide open, she savors every new experience, collecting them each like tiles in the game of Life. Sarah is many things; a New Englander, lover, daughter, poet, singer, park ranger, Girl Scout, forest bather, herbalist, gardener, and more, but above all she is unabashedly herself.
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Collaborations/Local Musicians
Performing rounds is a key part of our concerts. It is very easy to partner and collaborate with other musicians using these songs-- allowing for a unique performance experience in the local music community. Instrumentalists, vocalists, and music directors can get in touch with me at juliancalvmusic@gmail.com and I can provide material for learning the songs.
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Links for venue
Equipment List - 9 or 11 Inputs needed to amplify
Green means the artist will provide. Red means the artist requests this from the venue.
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Trimba (4 total mics) (2 mics based on amplification needs at the venue)
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Lo Trum (ATM25), Hi Trum (SM57), Overhead (1 mic), Maraca (1 mic)
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Auxiliary Percussion & Shruti Box (1 mic)
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Voices (2 mics)
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Piano (2 mics based on amplification needs at the venue)
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Stage Plot​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
In the absence of a piano, we have a keyboard.
juliancalvmusic@gmail.com / 908 - 455 - 1331
