Biography

Pit Hermans (1966) is based in Amsterdam and plays the Rumanian-Hungarian cimbalom and the Appenzeller hackbrett. Also she is a singer-songwriter in gipsy style, accompanying herself on cimbalom or acoustic guitar.

She developed herself on the piano and bass guitar until 1997. After being a journalist for 8 years specialised in magazines, she switched in 1998 and focused on music. The cimbalom became her main instrument. She studied with Rumanian teachers Vasile Luca, Mihai Scarlat and Dan Herford. Her Greek masters were a.o. Takis Sideris, Stefanos Filos and Stelios Allos.

Being one of the few cimbalom player specialised in Greek repertoire based in the Netherlands, she made several music studytrips to the Island of Mitilini (Lesvos, 2001/2004/2006), Athens (2005/2007) and Chania (2010) where she also performed in restaurants and clubs. Currently she is focussing on Greek, Rumanian as well as jewish music (klezmer). Being a member of various ensembles such as Vilde Katshke, MeRaPiCo, Foaie Verde, Duo Bambolage, Quinteto Maxixe, Meraklides and Gozaran. Sometimes she is a guest player at other (klezmer) bands.

Pit Hermans participated in various cd recordings and made 2 solo cd's in 2003 and 2006. She is particularly interested in performing the traditional, raw and pure music of the old times. The days when nobody knew of microphones, sound effects or youtube... Also she likes playing in multicultural groups and performing her program NOMMI.

In 2009 she played in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam (Kleine Zaal) with the Amsterdam klezmer group Di Fidl Kapelye featuring Stuart Brotman. In 2006 she joined the American-Russian-British-Dutch musical project about Chagall called 'The Green Violin', performed in Cristofori Amsterdam and composed by Frank London. In 2003 she joined a Greek-Iraqi music project for the Centre Culturel Arabe in Brussels.

Besides the cimbalom she is singing, playing bass guitar, violin and tzouras. She works in homecare parttime for an agency, helping out the old and ill people by cleaning, shopping and a daily talk, and she fancies buddhism.

 

My cd 'Dumanle' - 2006

 

The cd 'Dumanle' consists of her own songs in oriental-Greek-gipsy style, as well as some exquisite mediterranean standards. Instruments are cimbalom, guitar, voice, violin and percussion.

Listening: put cursor on picture and hold it there...

 

cd's

2011 demo 'Meraklides' (available soon)

2011 demo 'Duo Bambolage' (available)

2010 cimbalom guest musician at 'Caspian Hat Dance' - balkan-impro band.

2008 cimbalom/violin guest musician on cd 'Heartland Revisited' - singer songwriter 'Erny Green' (available)

2007 second cd 'Di Fidl Kapelye' - Trumpets for DIFK (see picture, available)

2006 cimbalom guest musician at 'Bibi Maizoon' - folkduo 'Bibi Maizoon' (available)

2006 cimbalom guest musician at 'Flign mit a nign' - klezmer trio 'Vilde Katshke' (available)

2006 live recording Multicultural band 'No Stress' - SJU Jazzpodium Utrecht (available)

2004 first cd 'Di Fidl Kapelye' (sold out)

2003/2007 various recordings with Greek Trio 'Charas Fotia' and Romanian band 'Foaie Verde' alias 'De Groene Blaadjes' (available)

2003 first demo 'Di Fidl Kapelye' (available)

2003 demo duo 'Klezmek' - cimb/clarinet (sold out)

2003 solo demo 'Maestro Piti the singing cimbalom queen' - cimbalom/voice (available)

Listening song 'Sedeger Chosidl': put cursor on left picture and hold it there