Originally composed by Alex Wier (b. 1987) for a joint Steel Pan and Electronic Percussion Ensemble, this original work won the Third Prize in the 2014 James P. and Shirley J. O’Brien Endowment Composition Contest. This version for steel pans alone was later created for performance without the electronic parts. This piece was partially inspired by minimalist ideas of Steve Reich and Philip Glass in addition to some modern elements of popular and electronic music styles. For this piece to be effective, with the layered parts and resultant textures, a careful balance is needed. The piece is written for tenors (or “leads”), double tenors, double seconds, cellos, bass pans, and drum set. Percussion parts for instruments in the steel band engine room can be added as desired. The middle section of the piece could also be made into a vamp for open solos, if desired.

This piece is an eligible work in the Steel Band category of the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) Prescribed Music List (PML).

For more information about Alex, including his other published works, visit his composer page.