[Rhodes22-list] Miami U.

[Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)]

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
>> 
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