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Pasadena, Texas,
USA – San
Jacinto College Central
music instructors Michael
Mizma (steel drum band) and
Dr. Paul Busselberg (choral
music) are excited about
collaborating on a
trailblazing music project
that will challenge as well
as showcase the talents of
many of the College’s music
students.
The Central
campus’ choir and steel drum
band will combine forces for
the world premier of “In the
Shadows of the Forest,” a
pioneer work exclusively
composed for steel band and
choir. The concert, which is
free and open to the public,
will take place on March 25
at 7 p.m. in Slocomb
Auditorium, located at 8060
Spencer Hwy in Pasadena.
The 45-minute steel
drum/choral score is
composed by Seattle,
Washington steel panist
Gary Gibson, who recently
won Trinidad’s “Symphony &
Steel” composition contest,
which encouraged new works
for orchestra with steel pan
ensemble. This is Gibson’s
first composition to combine
choir with steel band. He
will spend a week in
residence at San Jacinto
Community College to assist
in the preparation of the
concert.
“It’s a
multi-movement composition
that is based on Trinidadian
folklore,” said Mizma, who
will co-direct the
performance with Busselberg.
“This is a whole new
area of music, there is no
precedent or model for it,
and our students are really
getting excited to have a
part in something that is so
new,” commented Busselberg.
“I think audience members
are going to really enjoy
this blending of singing and
steel band music that
presents so many moods and
possibilities.”
“There were many challenges
in creating this piece, many
having to do with the fact
that much of Trinidad’s
folklore is sort of dark and
scary; it was tough to
achieve a balance in the
overall tone of the work,
but I think I managed it. At
the end of the day, I think
it holds together very well
and will educate as well as
entertain. The folklore of
Trinidad is a very deep well
to dig, but the water that
comes out of it is very
sweet indeed,” said Gibson.
The nine-movement
concert will feature a vast
array of styles and tempos,
some slow and melodic, and
some fast and upbeat. There
will even be a selection
performed in 7/4 meter,
which is uncommon and
challenging to perform.
Selections for the
concert will include:
“Sleep Well” – written
in a traditional African
style
“Papa Bois” –
written in a Brazilian samba
style
“Duppies” – an
Afro-Cuban cha-cha selection
“Ah Brodder Anansi” –
written in an old “swung”
calypso style
“La
Diablesse” – written in a
modern 7/8 style
“She
de Soucouyant” – written in
Reggae and ska styles
“Douennes” – an a
cappella choral piece
“Pan Jumbies” – written
in a contemporary calypso
style
Finale: “What
to Believe” and “Sleep Well”
reprise – combines modern
calypso, African, and free
style steel drum music.
The Central campus’
steel drum band and choir
will also perform at the
Kemah Pan Jam on March 27
from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The
Pan Jam will be held in the
Kemah Lighthouse district,
located adjacent to the
Kemah Boardwalk.
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