Some years ago while I was playing a solo performance in Monroe, MI,
a man with a heavy foreign accent came up to me and asked, "Why you
call that kal YOPE ee?"  He'd seen the words "Circus Calliope" that
were painted on the sides of my trailer.  I didn't understand his
question so I told him, "I don't call it kal YOPE ee, I call it
kuh LIE uh pee."

He insisted that I did, and he could see it right there on the side
of the trailer.  Then I understood his question.  I told him that's
what the instrument is called, a kuh LIE uh pee.

He said to me that I was wrong even then.  His words were, "It's right
there.  That's kal YOPE ee.  It's a Greek word and I'm from Greece.
The word is kal YOPE ee and that's how it's pronounced."

After I explained to him that calliope is the name of the musical
instrument I was playing we had a little chat with both of us smiling.
I don't expect to be playing any performances in Greece but if I do
I'll certainly remember to call it a kal YOPE ee.

Hal Davis