Distractions (Download)

for steel band

Joshua Garrett

Level: Advanced

Duration: 6:00

Personnel: 9 players

State Lists: Texas

Release Date: 11-7-2011

Product ID : TSPSB-01DL

Price: $45.00

Item #: TSPSB-01DL

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Description

Distractions is a Carnival-style tune for steel band comprised of high energy, challenging technical demands and fun, catchy melodies. Its up-tempo nature is reminiscent of the Panorama performances one might hear during Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, but with a twist. It features a jazzy, compound meter metric modulation that springs forward into a driving Afro-Cuban groove midway through the piece.

Written for and performed by the West Virginia University Steel Drum Ensemble by Joshua Garrett, Distractions promises an exciting opening or closing statement for mature steel band groups.

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Shared Recordings

Performed by the John Marshall High School Steel Band

Reviews

"Distractions" initially appears to be a typical offering in the Panorama competition style: a catchy melody in Bb major rides effortlessly over a pounding soca groove from the engine room. But following a variation featuring standard Panorama-style techniques - scoring the melody in the low pans, transposing the tune to the parallel minor key - something refreshingly unusual occurs: a metric codulation converts the feel from cut-time to 6/8. What follows is a lengthy, joyous "distraction" in a very rapid Afro-Cuban groove. The listener is transported to an entirely different mindset during this extended section, which includes room for a lead pan soloist.

Another metric modulation returns us to the original cut-time soca feel, while a tonal modulation brings us to C major for the concluding presentation of the themes. Joshua Garrett must be a fan of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe's tune "Birthday Party," because his ending here is quite reminiscent of Sharpe's closing gestures in that piece.

The piece receives the highest difficulty rating due to its scope and bright tempo; some passages in the upper voices would certainly prove challenging. Yet and accomplished steel band would have no great trouble in putting the piece together, and they would most certainly love the celebratory mood of the Afro-Cuban section. "Distractions" is a fun piece that is well crafted and a fresh addition to the steel band repertoire.

—Chris Tanner
Percussive Notes
Vol. 50, No. 4, July 2012