This sermon will describe John’s 75 years of playing drums. He will call on several traditions including the Tama talking drum from Senegal, the Djembe from Ghana, the Tar from Iraq, and a few others. There will be live demonstrations of the techniques and how the spirit enters the drums. It will end with “The Story of the Drum” which he has told many times in many places of the world.

Bio: John K. Galm, Professor Emeritus of Ethnomusicology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, has studied with master musicians in India, Indonesia, West Africa, Turkey, Morocco and Ireland. He holds a B.Mus. and a M. Musicology degree from Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester; Ph.D. Studies at Catholic University of America, Washington DC, and U.C.L.A. in Ethnomusicology. A former Vice-President of the Percussive Arts Society, he has based his research in the study of musical instruments (organology) and music of the African Diaspora. He has studied and taught in Senegal (TAMA – talking drum; Gansa, melody elaboration instrument in the Balinese Gamelon); Mridangam – drumming technique of South India; Afro-Cuban music in Cuba; Brazilian Batucada in Brazil; and Andean music in Peru and Bolivia. In addition to his research, he has given concerts of his music in these countries and throughout the United States. His article, Brazilian Percussion Instruments, is published in the Encyclopedia of Percussion Instruments, 1995. Professor Galm retired from the University of Colorado College of Music in May 2000 after 35 years as a faculty member and founder of the Department of Ethno-musicology. Since retiring from the University of Colorado, he has led healing drums circles at the Jonathan Goldman Sound Healing Institutes and gives lectures at universities and cultural and educational organizations. While moving to Port Townsend from Nelson BC, he has offered ALPs Classes in Drumming and Dances of Universal Peace. He is a member of the QUUF Recorder Ensemble and the Port Townsend Summer Band.

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