Oberlin Steel
Encyclopedia
Oberlin Steel is a steel band based at Oberlin College
in Oberlin, Ohio
. Originally known as the Oberlin Can Consortium until 2001, the group plays in the tradition of the great steel bands of Trinidad
, but also performs arrangements of salsa, calypso, and jazz as well as original compositions and arrangements by band members. It is one of Oberlin's most well-known bands, playing annually in Oberlin College's commencement festivities, Parent's Weekend, and other sponsored events. Finally, it is the only representative of the traditional steelband style in Northern Ohio.
The band was officially started as an Oberlin College
winter term project in 1981. After receiving a grant to purchase drums, they acquired additional instruments and formed a small performing unit. As many of the drums already painted silver and bearing the CC logo, the band became named The Oberlin Can Consortium. Much of their early library was made up of arrangements from the Calliope's Children Steel Band.
The first ever Can Consortium concert was held on February 12, 1981 was a huge success and led to the formation of a steel drum class in Oberlin's experimental college program. Development continued and one year later, a second concert was held, which featured a performance by Andy Narell
and a presentation by Ellie Mannette
.
Since its origin, the band has grown in size to become an ensemble of twenty musicians. Oberlin Steel performs at campus events and in the Oberlin
area. After months of rehearsing and performing, the band tours for the week of spring break in late march. Past destinations include Chicago, Boston, New York (the band has played at Avery-Fisher hall of New York’s Lincoln Center), Atlanta, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Miami, Montreal, Ithaca, and Washington DC, among others. Oberlin Steel performs for college and university audiences, nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, train stations, hotels, high schools, elementary schools, airplanes, weddings, stadiums, outdoor festivals and public spaces such as central park in New York City and the Lincoln memorial in DC. The band usually has sixteen to twenty members, including tenor, double-tenor, seconds, cello, quads, and bass pan players, as well as auxiliary percussionists and a set drummer.
Oberlin Steel is well connected with the broader steelband community. A handful of its members have played with Trinidadian steel orchestras including Clico Sforzata
, BP Renegades, and the Trinidad All-Stars. Many of the Oberlin Steel pannists also play with the band Pan Sonatas in the New York Panorama competition, which takes place over Labor Day weekend.
6 Tenor pans
2 Double-Tenor pans
3 Double-Second pans
2 Cellos
1 Quadrophonic
1 Tenor-Bass pan
1 6-Bass pan
1 Drum set
Auxiliary percussion (including iron, timbale, scratcher, congas)
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
. Originally known as the Oberlin Can Consortium until 2001, the group plays in the tradition of the great steel bands of Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, but also performs arrangements of salsa, calypso, and jazz as well as original compositions and arrangements by band members. It is one of Oberlin's most well-known bands, playing annually in Oberlin College's commencement festivities, Parent's Weekend, and other sponsored events. Finally, it is the only representative of the traditional steelband style in Northern Ohio.
History
The Oberlin Can Consortium was started by three Oberlin Students, Peter Mayer, Toby Gordon, and Michael Geller. All three were 1977-78 graduates of Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY where they were members of Calliope's Children, one of the first high school steel bands in the US. All of its steel drums carried the letters CC in a star-burst logo. With the retirement of James Leyden, founder and director of Calliope's Children, the group was disbanded. Peter, Toby, and Michael brought a number of the instruments with them to Oberlin.The band was officially started as an Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
winter term project in 1981. After receiving a grant to purchase drums, they acquired additional instruments and formed a small performing unit. As many of the drums already painted silver and bearing the CC logo, the band became named The Oberlin Can Consortium. Much of their early library was made up of arrangements from the Calliope's Children Steel Band.
The first ever Can Consortium concert was held on February 12, 1981 was a huge success and led to the formation of a steel drum class in Oberlin's experimental college program. Development continued and one year later, a second concert was held, which featured a performance by Andy Narell
Andy Narell
Andy Narell is a musician and composer specialized in the steelpan.-Biography:He was born in New York City and moved to California in his teens. He took up the steelpan at a very young age in Queens, New York...
and a presentation by Ellie Mannette
Ellie Mannette
Elliot "Ellie" Mannette is a musical instrument maker and Steel Pan musician, also known as "father of the modern steel pan instrument".-Life:...
.
Since its origin, the band has grown in size to become an ensemble of twenty musicians. Oberlin Steel performs at campus events and in the Oberlin
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
area. After months of rehearsing and performing, the band tours for the week of spring break in late march. Past destinations include Chicago, Boston, New York (the band has played at Avery-Fisher hall of New York’s Lincoln Center), Atlanta, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Miami, Montreal, Ithaca, and Washington DC, among others. Oberlin Steel performs for college and university audiences, nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, train stations, hotels, high schools, elementary schools, airplanes, weddings, stadiums, outdoor festivals and public spaces such as central park in New York City and the Lincoln memorial in DC. The band usually has sixteen to twenty members, including tenor, double-tenor, seconds, cello, quads, and bass pan players, as well as auxiliary percussionists and a set drummer.
Oberlin Steel is well connected with the broader steelband community. A handful of its members have played with Trinidadian steel orchestras including Clico Sforzata
Sforzata Steelband
The Sforzata Steel Orchestra was created on 29 July 1975 by arranger Merlin "Mutt" Gill, who had left the nearby Scherzando Steel Orchestra.-Early years:...
, BP Renegades, and the Trinidad All-Stars. Many of the Oberlin Steel pannists also play with the band Pan Sonatas in the New York Panorama competition, which takes place over Labor Day weekend.
Instrumentation
Although the instrumentation changes from year to year, this is the typical configuration:6 Tenor pans
2 Double-Tenor pans
3 Double-Second pans
2 Cellos
1 Quadrophonic
1 Tenor-Bass pan
1 6-Bass pan
1 Drum set
Auxiliary percussion (including iron, timbale, scratcher, congas)
Discography
- This Feelin' NiceThis Feelin' NiceThis Feelin' Nice is the first album recorded by the Oberlin Can Consortium.-Side one:# This Feelin' Nice # Porque Me Quieres # Fish # Build Upon the Rocks...
(1988) - Caught Steelin'Caught Steelin'Caught Steelin'is the second album recorded by the Oberlin Can Consortium.-Track listing:# Pan Jam # Ackee 123 # Girl from Ipanema...
(1991) - Panhandlin'Panhandlin'Panhandlin'is the third album recorded by the Oberlin Can Consortium.-Track listing:# Tourist Leggo # Johnny Q # Porque Me Quieres # Santana...
(1993) - Jus' YenjaiJus' YenjaiJus' Yenjai is the fourth album recorded by the Oberlin Can Consortium.-Side One:# Lara's Theme # O'Burro # Astrud # Late in the Evening...
(1995) - CanspiracyCanspiracyCanspiracy is the fifth album recorded by the Oberlin Can Consortium.-Track listing:# The Bee's Melody # Grave Soca # Sly Mongoose # Curry Tabanca...
(1997) - Steel This BandSteel This BandSteel This Band is the sixth album recorded by Oberlin Steel.-Track listing:# Carnival Day, Festival Day # Quasi Spasmodo # Spirit Voices # Caravan...
(2001) - Don't Panic!Don't Panic (album)Don't Panic is the seventh album recorded by Oberlin Steel.-Track listing:# Guitar Pan # Metal Mario # Bonnie & Clyde...
(2005) - Pan on the Moon (2009)
Press Releases
- Around Tappan Square - The Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Vol. 98 No. 1
- Oberlin Steel Drum Band to Perform in Centennial Park March 31 - Metro Parks News Release
- Steel Drum and Percussion Group to play at LSU - LSU News
- Midwestern Kids Rock Steel Drums in DC - current.com
Other External links
- Oberlin Steel Official site
- List of Steelbands
- Article on Oberlin Steel at Oberwiki
- Oberlin Steel Advertisements from Oberlin College digital collections