Campus Currents

Walla Walla College Adds Steel Drums to its Musical Ensemble

Two years ago, when Brandon Beck, associate professor of music, came to Walla Walla College, the Department of Music was looking for something new, something different, maybe something in the “world music” category to broaden the department’s musical opportunities. Beck’s solution? A steel drum band.

“The steel drum is a great outlet for percussion players or anyone with a good sense of rhythm,” says Beck. “It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little more about the music and musical styles of another culture.”

The steel drum band will consist of seven drums: two Spiderweb Leads, Double Second, Double Tenor, Guitar, Cello, and Bass. One person plays each drum, which has up to six “pans” or individual drum units. The lead drum, for example, with only one pan, has the largest and highest range, covering 21ž2 octaves from middle C to high G. An accompanying percussion section, the “engine room,” will complement the steel drum band using mostly Latin American percussion instruments such as the conga and timbale drums.

Beck is organizing a stand-alone performing group, although a steel drum band can also perform with a larger music ensemble, such as a full orchestra. The steel drum band will perform on campus and tour academies and churches in the Northwest.

“Touring will give students many opportunities for performance,” says Beck, “and help get the word out that we have this new and exciting ensemble.” Walla Walla College will be the only Adventist College in North America to have a steel drum band.

Steel drums originated in Trinidad during the British Colonial rule of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Because the native hand drums, which were often used to gather rival gangs, were outlawed, people began creating other rhythmic instruments out of bamboo, garbage can lids, empty oil drums, and old car parts.

Sometime about 1930, someone discovered that a dented 55-gallon oil drum lid created a unique musical tone based on the shape and size of the dent. Ellie Mannette, considered the founder of the modern steel drum, began manufacturing the first steel drum pans about this time, and continues to be active in pan making today.

The WWC steel drums were purchased from his company, Mannette Steel Drums, with funding provided by WWC alumni and friends.
“We are very appreciative to the alumni and friends who helped us purchase these drums,” Beck says. W

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