Trimbtych is an ensemble dedicated to performing the music of Louis T. Hardin, AKA Moondog. This 20th c. American composer's music creates an unexpected link between the resurgent science of counterpoint, Arapaho, Navajo, Blackfoot, and Sioux rhythms and song forms, jazz improvisation, pagan/Norse themes, and a repetitive minimalistic aesthetic. The ensemble is led by the sole-student of Moondog's protege Stefan Lakatos, trimbist Julian Calv. They perform with various lineups depending on the concert and include background about the composer and music from the director.
"Zappa liked what he called Moondog's dada clockwork"
"The earliest graphic image I have is of Louis Hardin, better known as Moondog, the legendary boho and musical outsider...dressed as a sort of Viking"
- David Bowie, The New York Magazine
juliancalvmusic@gmail.com / 908 - 455 - 1331
Moondog/Calv Social Media & Spotify
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
April 2026
November 2025
September/October 2025
June 2025
November 2024
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The Phoenix Gallery, Waterbury, VT
Summer 2024
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Silver Lake State Park, Barnard, VT
Concert Recordings
Moondog: On the Keys
One of our signature shows features the trimba and piano.
A concert featuring songs, vocal canons, and other songs by American composer Moondog performed by trimbist Julian Calv and his ensemble Trimbtych. 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 sound of jazz improvisation, pagan/Norse themes, and a repetitive minimalistic aesthetic. The concert spans Moondog’s career with selections from albums like The Last Concert, Moondog: Piano Trimba, In Europe, A New Sound Of An Old Instrument, H'art Songs, Moondog (1956); and includes background about the music from Julian- who studied with Moondog’s only student, Stefan Lakatos.
Trimbtych Trio
A bass, melodic instrument, and trimba trio.
A concert featuring songs, instrumental music, canons, and other arranged compositions by American composer Louis T. Hardin, AKA Moondog. Moondog's music which creates an unexpected link between the resurgent science of counterpoint, Arapaho, Navajo, Blackfoot, and Sioux rhythms and song forms, the sound of jazz improvisation, pagan/Norse themes, and a repetitive minimalistic aesthetic. Trimbist/vocalist Julian Calv directs the ensemble. The concert spans Moondog’s career with a wide and varying selection of works; and includes background about the music from Julian- who studied with Moondog’s only student, Stefan Lakatos.
Bios
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 sound of jazz improvisation, and the beginnings of a repetitive and minimalist aesthetic all rooted by intent, restraint, and discipline. 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.
"Zappa liked what he called Moondog's dada clockwork"
"The earliest graphic image I have [of NYC] is of Louis Hardin, better known as Moondog, the legendary boho and musical outsider...dressed as a sort of Viking"
- David Bowie, The New York Magazine
Julian Calv (ensemble Director)
Julian Calv is an American composer, singer, and trimbist whose work serves as a bridge between tonal avant-garde traditions of the mid-20th century and a contemporary sonic landscape. He is known as the "grand-student" and primary protege of the late Stefan Lakatos, who was the sole apprentice to the legendary street-poet and composer Louis T. Hardin, AKA Moondog. Rooted in a deep, academic, and spiritual study of Moondog’s creative life, Calv has dedicated himself to the preservation and expansion of the "Moondog sound." His commitment to this legacy led him to build his own trimba—the triangular percussion instrument invented by Moondog.
Since graduating from Moravian University in 2021, Calv has transitioned from student to a distinct and humble voice. Whether busking on Church Street in Burlington, VT—echoing Moondog’s own history on Manhattan’s 6th Avenue—or releasing full-length studio albums like Nonstop Motion (2024) and Solid Gold Timepiece (2025), his music remains "handmade, but not easy."
Calv’s music is a meticulous fusion of tonal avant-garde heritage and contemporary environmental reflection, anchored by the rhythmic precision of the trimba. His debut full-length album, Nonstop Motion (2024), serves as a definitive introduction to this sound, blending original compositions with archival pieces by Moondog to create a seamless, hypnotic cycle of counterpoint and percussion. Calv expanded his sonic palette in 2025 with Solid Gold Timepiece, a collaborative project under the name Shagbarn with punk pioneer Derwood Andrews, which weaves Moondog-inspired beats into a tapestry of Celtic blues and classical folk. His shorter works are equally evocative, notably the single "Route 4," which transforms the ambient "highway drones" of his surroundings into a meditative, trance-like composition.
Alex Stewart (Piano)
Alex Stewart is a musician, architect, and man about town. He serves as both the music director and organist, where he oversees a diverse program including three choirs and a bell choir. He frequently performs on the church’s restored 1921 Estey Pipe Organ. He is a sought-after accompanist for regional groups, including the long-running Area Choir in Newport and various theatrical productions, such as Kearsarge High School’s performance of 42nd Street. He’s played with Trimbtych since November 2024.
Ailey Verdelle (Piano)
Ailey Verdelle is a versatile pianist, composer, and music educator based in Western Massachusetts. Known for her technical precision and creative versatility, she has built a multifaceted career that spans performance, academic study, and community instruction. Ailey’s musical foundation was laid at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where she underwent intensive training in both piano and organ technique.
Sarah Penna (Vocals/Poet)
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.
Emma Bockrath (Vocals)
Emma Bockrath is known for her presence in the Lehigh Valley music scene. The Nazareth, PA, artist's style often blends contemporary pop with sophisticated jazz influences, characterized by her smooth, expressive vocals. Emma has become a staple at local venues and community events. Notably, she has performed at festivals like 11Fest in Bethlehem and the Winter WonderJam, where she is recognized for her ability to shift seamlessly between original compositions and classic covers. She sings as an alto vocalist and occasionally plays guitar with Trimbtych.
Johnny Gifford (Saxophone)
Johnny Gifford is a staple of the Southern Vermont music scene, known for his versatility as a guitarist, drummer, saxophonist, and sound engineer. He plays in groups like Cousin Greg, Wolf Girlz, McAsh The Band, and regularly collaborates with a variety artists surrounding his scene.
Andrew Schulman (Bass)
He is a prominent cantor and choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of the Valley in Easthampton, MA, and has served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Northampton, MA. He is a member of the Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra, a well-known Northampton-based ensemble that performs eclectic arrangements for their audience.
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.
Presentations and Conference Concerts
Presentations with live music selections are a great way to engage with the community and introduce them to both Moondog's music and biographical story. Julian Calv pulls from his own research along with the works of Amaury Cornut and Robert Scotto, two Moondog biographers from France and America respectively. The presentation includes live listening sessions of Moondog's recordings and live pieces such as piano works or vocal canons.
Additional Links
juliancalvmusic@gmail.com / 908 - 455 - 1331
