Patriotic and American Music for Kalimba

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, on 17/C Kalimba

As a retired kalimba master, I have been doing a lot of music performances at elder care facilities. While I can get through a one hour performance with 15-20 songs, I need to have a lot more than that up my sleeve: not everyone I play for has a bad memory! If I play the same songs each week, some of the residents will catch on, and I might lose my dream job of playing for people and bringing them joy.

One simple way to keep a diverse song list is to pay attention to the calendar. For example, you can learn a bunch of Christmas Songs to perform in December, or Easter Songs to perform in the spring. I actually get more mileage from holiday songs: I live in Arizona, where it can get over 100 degrees anytime between March and October. Sometimes I will throw in “Let it Snow” or “Jingle Bells” in June. Why? It keeps the residents on their toes (“Hey, what season is it anyway?”), and I get to say how I love those wintry songs because they make me feel cool in the heat. And I DO love them – Christmas and holiday songs are among my favorite on the kalimba.

Here is another tip for you: invest some effort learning to play patriotic and Americana songs on your kalimba. These are good for both Memorial Day and for July 4… or really, any time of year.

Get the Kalimba Americana Book for the 17/C Kalimba.

Get the Kalimba Americana PDF Download for the 17/C Kalimba.

Get the Kalimba Americana Book for the Alto Kalimba.

Get the Kalimba Americana PDF Download for the Alto Kalimba.

And you know, there is some subtle irony, playing a tune such as the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” or “The Marine’s Hymn” on kalimba. Usually they are played by a big brass band with power and bombast. On the gentle kalimba, they do sound a bit different.

Here is the full list of songs in the Kalimba Americana books and downloads:

* Ha Ha Thisaway
* The Muffin Man
* Clementine
* Deep In The Heart of Texas
* Here We Go Looby Loo
* Oh! Susanna
* Marines Hymn – Basic
* Fanfare for the Common Man
* My Grandfather’s Clock – Basic
* Taps
* This Train – Basic
* Cielito Lindo – Basic
* Wade In The Water
* Yankee Doodle
* Follow the Drinking Gourd
* American the Beautiful
* Take Me Out To The Ball Game
* Blackberry Blossom
* Streets of Laredo
* When Johnny Comes Marching Home
* Home on the Range
* Marine’s Hymn – Advanced
* My Grandfather’s Clock – Advanced
* The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
* This Train – Advanced
* Simple Gifts
* Battle Hymn of the Republic
* Cielito Lindo – Advanced
* The Girl I Left Behind Me

Oh, and here is the first page of tablature for the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, for the Alto Kalimba:

I hope you enjoy the Kalimba Americana music I have arranged for Alto and 17/C Kalimbas.