The Daily Campus
UConn's Steel Pan Ensemble performs energetic musical pieces at their spring concert in Von Der Mehden Auditorium on April 21st, 2018.
Connecticut, USA - On Saturday night, UConn musicians joined in von der Mehden Recital Hall to perform the smooth styles of Latin Steel Pan rhythms. The ensemble played five numbers which showcased all of the main traditions in steel pan music. The show also presented a description of the history of this style of music and an overview of the various types of steel drums.
As Director Bob Stephens explained, the four categories of drum are the “tenor,” which plays the main melody of the song, “bass,” which provides the backbone to the piece and has the lowest pitch, and “guitar and cello,” which fills in the rest of the piece, providing harmonized melodies to support the tenors.
The pieces themselves each had a slightly different feel. According to drummer Gian Lombardo, the three main styles presented in the concert were “calypso, cha cha and soca.” The five songs that the ensemble played were “Take a Wine” by Ray Holman, “All’ Ah We” by Tom Miller, “Cha Cha Sandwich” by Phil Hawkins, “Red Beans and Rice,” arranged by Bob Stephens and Earl McDonald and “Birthday Party” by Lennox “Boogsie” Sharpe.
“Birthday Party” was a great choice for the finale, blending many rhythms together and building to a powerful ending. The best song of the night was “All’ Ah We,” which you may have heard if you attended the African American Cultural Center’s closing ceremony for Black History Month.
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