News & press releases

Steel oil drums + oil capital = music

The Stavanger music scene has been enriched with an exotic addition in the form of a brand new Steel Drum Band. The band consists of 15 youngsters between 9 and 16 years, who meet for band practice at the Byfjord School every week. Although this new band has only been playing together for a couple of months, their debut performance has already been planned for the summer of 2007. On their repertoire is well-known music with a new sound.

Ingeborg Løseth, a percussion teacher at the Stavanger culture school, had the idea of starting up her very own Steel Drum Band for children and young people in Stavanger when she worked as a percussion teacher in South Africa. Thanks to a grant from Stavanger2008, 25 brand new steel drums have been acquired, and the oil city now has its very own Steel Drum Band.

The steel drum originated as an instrument in the Caribbean, and is much used in Caribbean and African music. The drums are empty oil barrels that have been hammered and shaped to produce tones in the lid, making it possible to play music.

"Music is the language of children and the young, and music is a universal language, which is why it is exciting to combine new and unfamiliar instruments with traditional, well-known music," says Ingeborg Løseth. "This is a unique opportunity to import exotic sounds and instruments to the Stavanger region, and to organise an activity for young people that is creative and lasting."