For many, the sonorous sounds of the harp conjure images of angels and dreams. Mixed with the equally melodious sounds of the steelpan and one may have a match made in heaven and this is precisely the combination of sounds and instruments to be explored this coming Sunday in recital by steelband arranger Liam Teague, a professor at Northern Illinois University and harpist Faye Seeman. The steelpan/ harp combination is the most recent project for Teague as he continues to explore new soundscapes. The recital will be webcast on February 21, starting at 7 pm Trinidad time.
Noted harpist Faye Seeman herself is a faculty member in the Northern Illinois University School of Music as well as principal harpist of the renowned Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra since 1993 and professor of harp studies at Wheaton College. She also enjoys a diverse freelance career and performed as the principal harpist of the New York-based Joffrey Ballet from 2002-2012. She is also the founder of the “Kithara” flute, cello and harp trio.
Seeman is a versatile harpist known for venturing away from playing traditional classical music and her “ZigZag” Jazz Harp Quartet (harp, piano, bass and drums), is an eclectic blend of jazz, classical and new age styles of music. In addition to being colleagues at Northern Illinois University, Seeman and Teague are both faculty members at the music summer school programme at Birch Creek, Wisconsin.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Teague is embarking on this ambitions recital on the heels of yet another successful campaign arranging for Silver Stars Steel Orchestra in the Panorama finals. The recital on Sunday will be the premier performance of the harp/steelpan duo which is calling itself Pangelic. The programme will include an eclectic mix of repertoire and Teague notes, “We will play a number of spiritual and classical pieces, original compositions, as well as solos.”
Works will explore the harp/steelpan combination in a variety of ways and ranges stylistically from classics like Debussy’s Claire De Lune and Chopin’s piano piece to new contemporary classical pieces to arrangements of the xylophone ragtime music of early 20th-century xylophonist George Hamilton Green.
Teague and Seeman will each add an original composition to the recital.
Although Pangelic is a duo, the pair will also be joined by the celebrated pianist Jodie Desalvo on the recital. “Jodie is a mutual friend whom both Faye and I have had the honour to work with individually.”
Teague adds, “Faye and I hope to keep working together in the future, as we really feel that the unique combination steelpan and harp deserves to be heard worldwide.”
MORE INFO
Webcast: February 21,
7 pm T&T time
http://www.niu.edu/Music/media/webcasts/index.shtm