NYU Steel is for Real
No schizophrenic behavior about the Steelpan - in the school of Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development...
Another When Steel Talks Concert Review
New York, New York - For this Spring Steel Orchestra concert, When Steel Talks (WST) is in one of the iconic quarters of Gotham City - the beautiful Frederick Loewe Theatre on the NYU (New York University) campus. NYU Steel is about to have its final performance of the semester as part of the NYU Music and Performance Arts Professions Spring 2012 events.
The prestigious Percussion Studies program at NYU Steinhardt is unique, and may certainly boast at being the only such degree program where learning to play the steelpan instrument is mandatory for all its students regardless of their focus area and instrument of choice. The NYU program offers B.M., M.M., Ph.D. in music performance.
In a relatively short time NYU Steel, the brainchild of the department Chairman, Professor Jonathan Haas, has established itself as a serious ensemble. But moreover, this instrumental aggregation provides its participants and audience deeper insight into another culture, broadens their musical horizons and strengthens their educational and human development.
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The musical director of NYU Steel, Quillen called the Kitchener classic one of his all-time favorites. He talks about calypso “the folk music of Trinidad and Tobago” with knowledge and reverence, and about soca as the modern day hip-hop version of calypso. And just in case you didn’t get the message, NYU Steel brought Winston Bailey’s—aka The Mighty Shadow—“Swing de Ting” into the mix. Indeed this master of the Trinidad and Tobago folk music and soca/calypso musical genre, Shadow, would be proud to hear this version of his song thousands of miles away from his homeland. And yes the normally reserved New York University audience lost their “good behavior” and smiled, swayed, cheered, whistled and hooted in their seats. NYU Steel then switched gears in a move that would have Dale Earnhardt blushing as Quillen lead the band into the Latin-tinged “Fuego Contra Fuego.” For good measure and a showcasing of their versatility NYU Steel decided to bring some Rhythm and Blues to the table with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s “Sunday Morning Funk.”
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Replies
Hmmm,
Imagine that. The study of steelpan "is mandatory" at one of the top schools in America, (and by the way, it is NOT offered as a Major!!) And in the "land of its birth" the-powers-that-be are seeing to the systematic dismantling of the Pan in schools program.
Oh Lord, put A Hand!
I am so proud to be a member of this New York University Steelband. Congratulations to all.