Bio
Mike Tamburo is a world-renowned musician, composer, artist and educator. He is known and loved for his transformational live concerts performed on his personally curated set of gongs, bells and other metal instruments.
A lifelong multi-instrumentalist, Tamburo has focused his talents on metal percussion instruments, string instruments (hammered dulcimer, guitar, zither, shahi baaja), as well as electronic instruments (synths, looping).
Since 1994, Tamburo has shared more than 2,000 concerts and workshops. He has recorded over 70 albums, both solo and in collaboration with Crown of Eternity, Meisha, Arco Flute Foundation, Psychic Frost, Brother Ong and more, ranging from epic gong music to ecstatic and transcendental string music, as well as folk, drone, space rock, ambient, mantra music and sometimes unclassifiable sounds. This man loves music in all its forms!
He teaches gong music, both in person and online with School of Gong. He is also a part of the far-reaching ethnomusicology trio, Dig Deeper, with Mitch Nur and Thomas Orr Anderson. Their online classes have explored countless musical concepts with a focus on the cultural and personal uses of sound for healing, meditation, trance, ecstatic states, relaxation, self transformation, perception, psycho-acoustics, scientific discovery, time and community.
An early adoptee of meditation, Tamburo’s music offers space for journeying, self-exploration and deep introspection. During many of his early performances, he experienced altered states of consciousness and out of body experiences. To understand these experiences, he explored kundalini yoga, energy work, the therapeutic use of sound and how sound impacts consciousness, human perception and self healing. His love for long sustained drones, overtones and psychoacoustics continues to inspire him to explore music in further directions.
Tamburo is also an interdisciplinary sound artist, instrument builder, video artist, sound therapist, writer and meditation teacher.
Upcoming Concerts, Workshops, Trainings, Artist Residencies
Listen and Purchase Music By Mike Tamburo
Mike Tamburo returns with a shimmering and primal set of metallic explorations and sonic meditations performed on gongs, bells and sound sculptures. Powerful and emotional, 'The Giant Sleeps' continues Tamburo's vision of creating beautiful and compelling music with metal instruments and forging new pathways for himself as a composer and
Mike Tamburo returns with a shimmering and primal set of metallic explorations and sonic meditations performed on gongs, bells and sound sculptures. Powerful and emotional, 'The Giant Sleeps' continues Tamburo's vision of creating beautiful and compelling music with metal instruments and forging new pathways for himself as a composer and improviser.
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The Giant Sleeps 2:070:00/2:07
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0:00/7:37
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0:00/6:13
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0:00/7:27
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0:00/2:58
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0:00/4:08
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0:00/11:54
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0:00/4:16
Private Humors is 8 songs written and recorded on the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field during the summer and fall of 2022. These songs range from minimal to elegant to lush, from wistful to joyful (and sometimes may I say nearly poppy) and as with the song 'Grammy', which I wrote at my Grammy's bedside while she was in the hospital after a bad fall,
Private Humors is 8 songs written and recorded on the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field during the summer and fall of 2022. These songs range from minimal to elegant to lush, from wistful to joyful (and sometimes may I say nearly poppy) and as with the song 'Grammy', which I wrote at my Grammy's bedside while she was in the hospital after a bad fall, sometimes intentionally meant for peace and healing.
I had a lovely time creating this music in my private moments between the live concerts I was performing with my percussion & gong rig and the classes I was teaching online. In 2022, I found a new mode of expression on the OP-1. It's ease, size and flexibility, make it another perfect instrument to express myself with.
I had a lovely time creating this music in my private moments between the live concerts I was performing with my percussion & gong rig and the classes I was teaching online. In 2022, I found a new mode of expression on the OP-1. It's ease, size and flexibility, make it another perfect instrument to express myself with.
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Orange Triumph 2:500:00/2:50
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Your Chariot Awaits 2:350:00/2:35
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Grammy 4:510:00/4:51
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Green #097969 4:320:00/4:32
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0:00/3:58
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Cry Laughing 1:390:00/1:39
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Young Fools 5:420:00/5:42
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A Boy Named Comedy 4:160:00/4:16
a love note
(for NH)
written shortly after midnight
meant to be heard upon waking
or before returning to sleep
in the early morning
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Mike Tamburo - 'as you wake or return to sleep'
A gentle sonic contemplation, imagined for the space in time between between waking up in the early morning and returning to sleep soon after. Slow, hazy,
(for NH)
written shortly after midnight
meant to be heard upon waking
or before returning to sleep
in the early morning
----------
Mike Tamburo - 'as you wake or return to sleep'
A gentle sonic contemplation, imagined for the space in time between between waking up in the early morning and returning to sleep soon after. Slow, hazy,
a love note
(for NH)
written shortly after midnight
meant to be heard upon waking
or before returning to sleep
in the early morning
----------
Mike Tamburo - 'as you wake or return to sleep'
A gentle sonic contemplation, imagined for the space in time between between waking up in the early morning and returning to sleep soon after. Slow, hazy, dreamy and inviting.
(for NH)
written shortly after midnight
meant to be heard upon waking
or before returning to sleep
in the early morning
----------
Mike Tamburo - 'as you wake or return to sleep'
A gentle sonic contemplation, imagined for the space in time between between waking up in the early morning and returning to sleep soon after. Slow, hazy, dreamy and inviting.
Happy to announce the release of 'The April Tapes' - a 12 song EP recorded in my kitchen during April, 2022 on an OP1 synthesizer.
There is a certain beauty to this collection that I wanted to share as soon as possible.
These are the first songs that I had written since my father passed in December.
April also saw me going through a slow
There is a certain beauty to this collection that I wanted to share as soon as possible.
These are the first songs that I had written since my father passed in December.
April also saw me going through a slow
Happy to announce the release of 'The April Tapes' - a 12 song EP recorded in my kitchen during April, 2022 on an OP1 synthesizer.
There is a certain beauty to this collection that I wanted to share as soon as possible.
These are the first songs that I had written since my father passed in December.
April also saw me going through a slow unexpected romantic break up.
This music was an important force in my life as it was coming together. There was an ease and simplicity to it all. The songs are short and sweet, but each speaks volumes to me.
I usually write and record during the winter, but I was grieving this winter and I was far from being able to write or record anything. Instead I spent the winter building metal bell plates and performing concerts.
I remember sitting down one day at the beginning of April and I had something that I wanted to express once again. Inspiration had once again set in.
I hope this music can act as a balm for those who hear it.
There is a certain beauty to this collection that I wanted to share as soon as possible.
These are the first songs that I had written since my father passed in December.
April also saw me going through a slow unexpected romantic break up.
This music was an important force in my life as it was coming together. There was an ease and simplicity to it all. The songs are short and sweet, but each speaks volumes to me.
I usually write and record during the winter, but I was grieving this winter and I was far from being able to write or record anything. Instead I spent the winter building metal bell plates and performing concerts.
I remember sitting down one day at the beginning of April and I had something that I wanted to express once again. Inspiration had once again set in.
I hope this music can act as a balm for those who hear it.
I first composed this on the Wilsonic app while living in in Santa Cruz in December 2018. My 2019 travels and tours kicked in before I had a chance to record this piece and then Covid hit, bringing me back to Pennsylvania. I ended up recording all of the instruments in my mom's basement in January 2021. I finally ended up adding the humming part
I first composed this on the Wilsonic app while living in in Santa Cruz in December 2018. My 2019 travels and tours kicked in before I had a chance to record this piece and then Covid hit, bringing me back to Pennsylvania. I ended up recording all of the instruments in my mom's basement in January 2021. I finally ended up adding the humming part at my house in Pittsburgh while I had Covid in October 2021.
I love the vibe of this and I hope that you will as well.
I love the vibe of this and I hope that you will as well.
Music inspired by our strange times, David Lynch, Wallace Shawn, Masha, waterfalls, a psychedelic birthday party, changing seasons, feeding fortune cookies to geese, sleeping on a kayak, and all of the surprises that come along with composing on a malfunctioning electric vibraphone.
This music was recorded during the same time period as
This music was recorded during the same time period as
Music inspired by our strange times, David Lynch, Wallace Shawn, Masha, waterfalls, a psychedelic birthday party, changing seasons, feeding fortune cookies to geese, sleeping on a kayak, and all of the surprises that come along with composing on a malfunctioning electric vibraphone.
This music was recorded during the same time period as 'Distance Music - March 2021'. I consider the two albums to compliment each other.
This music was recorded during the same time period as 'Distance Music - March 2021'. I consider the two albums to compliment each other.
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Mahh Sun #2 7:240:00/7:24
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The Air We Share 12:360:00/12:36
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Clearly Music 2:260:00/2:26
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Wallace Shawn 4:260:00/4:26
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Water Run With Me 8:010:00/8:01
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Our Forever Illusion 8:030:00/8:03