[Rhodes22-list] Miami U.

[Steve Alm]

Doug,

Thanks for the description of the MU SteelBand.  It sounds fantastic.  We
have a few steel drummers around here but no big orchestra like yours.  The
last time I heard a large group like that, I couldn't keep my feet still and
neither could anyone else.  What a great sound?!

I'd heard of soprano pans and such but I never knew they were called triple
guitar, cello, etc.  That's the kind of info I like.  8-)  Got CD's or
anything?  If so, I'd like to order one.

Slim


On 9/16/03 12:15 PM, "Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)"
<douglas.gardner at lexisnexis.com> wrote:

> Hey Slim, 
> 
> Sorry it took me so long to get back to you... busy.
> 
> How many in the group?  That depends.  Number of personnel varies by
> semester, but typically about 30. The full ensemble is a university group,
> so technically I'm not in it anymore. However, I still play as a "guest"
> whenver I can (ok, so I haven't played since just after Dylan was born...
> I'll fix that soon.)  Until recently, there were 6 of us that played a lot
> in the summertime under the MU SteelBand moniker.  Now the MU SteelBand
> really is the full group, or at least a large portion of it.  The size of
> the band is really defined best by the number of voices.  I'm guessing at
> some of these, but here's a shot at the number of each voice
> Lead pans: 5-6 (or more with guests)
> Double Tenor: 2-3
> Double Second: 2-3
> Triple guitar: 2
> Cello: 1
> Tenor Bass: 1
> Bass: 2
> Asst'd Percussion (drum set, congas, timbales, iron, etc.)
> 
> As for the arrangement of the pans, that is partially correct, but only in
> the very early years.  Now the pans are more or less standardized in a
> circle of fifths.  The main exception to that rule is a lead pan variant
> called the "Invaders Pan".  This is an arrangement that was used by the
> Invaders Steel Band, and was the end point in the development of the lead
> pan with the "I need a new note on the drum to play this new song... ah, I
> see an open spot over there..."  design philosophy.  There are some notable
> artists who still use this arrangement because they think it is superior in
> tonal quality and in supporting the playing of technically demanding
> passages.  It is, however, much more difficult to learn.  As far as I know,
> Ellie Mannette is the only builder who still makes this design, although
> Alan Coyle may also.
> 
> I consider my main pan instrument to be bass.  Although I own a set of
> double seconds, I don't consider myself proficient on them.  Basses are a
> bit of a challenge to gig with, however.  As a set of six 55gal. barrels,
> they are difficult to mic and even worse to haul around. Completely
> impractical. Some day I'll probably own a set.  ;^)
> 
> --Doug
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Alm [mailto:salm at mn.rr.com]
> Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 2:39 PM
> To: Rhodes
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Miami U.
> 
> 
> Doug,
> 
> I'm afraid all I know about the "pans" is that I love listening to them.
> I've fooled around a little with them, but never got very proficient,
> although as a somewhat accomplished timpanist, I'll bet I could hang on to a
> bass part.  8-)  I've heard told that the original pans were each made by
> the drummer himself and had its own unique arrangement of note placement so
> that no other drummer would be able to play his pan, and thus possibly take
> away his gig if he was a better drummer.  It was job security.
> 
> How many in your group?
> 
> Slim
> 
> On 9/12/03 8:16 AM, "Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)"
> <douglas.gardner at lexisnexis.com> wrote:
> 
>> Yes, small world!  I know Margaret well... if I had spoken to them before
>> they donated it to charity in 1992, I'd now own Frank and Margaret's old
> 'C'
>> Scow!
>> 
>> Wanna try for music?  I'm a founding member of the Miami University Steel
>> Band.  Know anything about steel drums?
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Alm [mailto:salm at mn.rr.com]
>> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 7:37 PM
>> To: Rhodes
>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Miami U.
>> 
>> 
>> Doug,
>> 
>> It's a small world.  My wife's sister is your wife's colleague at Miami.
>> She's Dr. Margaret (Peg) Wright--child psych.  They lived in Oxford for
> many
>> years but have now moved to Cinci, and she commutes.
>> 
>> Slim
>> 
>> On 9/11/03 2:28 PM, "Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)"
>> <douglas.gardner at lexisnexis.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Len, 
>>> 
>>> Sorry to take so long to get back to you.  I'm not sure when we could
> work
>>> it out, but I have an '86 R22 on Brookville Lake in Indiana.  We live in
>>> Oxford, as my wife is a professor in the psychology dept at Miami
>> (cognitive
>>> psych).  We haven't sailed much this year because we have 2 very young
>>> children and just moved.  However, I'm sure we have much in common and
>> would
>>> love to have you along.  I'll contact you backchannel.
>>> 
>>> --Doug
>>> s/v Fretnaught
>>> 
>>> ________________________
>>> Douglas L. Gardner, Ph.D.
>>> Sr. Human Factors Engineer
>>> Global Electronic Product Development
>>> LexisNexis
>>> douglas.gardner at lexisnexis.com
>>> 937.865.6800 x56200
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: leonard lansky [mailto:lanskylm at email.uc.edu]
>>> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 9:38 PM
>>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] some info and query
>>> 
>>> 
>>> To List:  I sold my Sabre 34 about 4 years ago, because my wife could no
>>> longer sail.  She died                                         a year and
>>> half ago; I am thinking of getting back into sailing via the Rhodes 22
>>> which I have never even seen, never mind sailed.
>>>        Is there anyone within 75 miles or so of Cincinnati with an R-22
>>> in the water who needs a crew for a race or would be willing to take on
> an
>>> extra passenger someday this fall.  I am retired and available almost any
>>> day.
>>>        Thanks in advance and fair winds
>>> len lansky
>>> 
>>> len lansky
>>> emeritus professor
>>> department of psychology
>>> university of cincinnati
>>> cincinnati, OH 45221
>>> 
>>> contact me at :
>>> 
>>> 2200 victory parkway #1202
>>> cincinnati,oh 45206-2851
>>> phone 513-751-0392
>>> fax--513-751-5522
>>> 
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> 
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list