Welcome to the website of Absolute Pandemonium - Homerton College's very own Steel Pan band!

Who are 'Absolute Pandemonium'?

Absolute Pandemonium is Homerton College's Steel Pan band. The band was first established in 1982 in the Department of Music, then based in Trumpington House. Going from strength to strength, Absolute Pandemonium has been running for almost 30 years, and always welcomes new members. The band is now based at Homerton College and rehearsals take place there. It is also now part of the Homerton College Music Society and frequently feature in many of their concerts and events.

Absolute Pandemonium is also available to perform at other events: charity events, weddings, school fairs, staff parties to name a few. Absolute Pandemonium also perform at many of the university events, such as May Balls, June Events, Garden parties and other society's social functions.

Absolute Pandemonium is in constant demand for performances and curriculum based workshops at schools to bring both music and culture to students and children. We have also held weekend workshops for local Brownie groups and performed at Teacher conferences to explain more about the work we do as well as how we feel music is beneficial to education.

What are steel pans?

Steel Pans (also known as Steel Drums) are pitched percussion instruments (i.e. different notes can be played on them). They originated from Trinidad and Tobago, and are often made from empty oil drums. They originated from tuned bamboo sticks, which were hit against the ground. This eventually evolved into the modern steel drum as we know it. The ‘face’ of each drum is separated into various segments, and each segment is tuned to a different note. In our band we have 4 different types of steel pans; tenor (for the main tune), guitars and cellos (for the accompanying chords and harmonies) and the bass drums (for the bass line). Steel pan musicians are known as Pannists.

What sort of music do we play?

We play all sorts of styles of music, ranging from traditional Caribbean style tunes, to modern day pop music and show tunes, for example, “Under the Sea” from the Little Mermaid, “Take my breath away” by Berlin, “Let me Entertain you” by Robbie Williams and “The Tide is High”. We are always open to new ideas for tunes to play, and write our all own arrangements.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals take place in Homerton College in the Small Studio (just above the Porter's Lodge) on Tuesdays or Fridays. Times and dates are liable to change due to difficulties with room bookings, so please contact a member of the committee to double check if you are interested.

Rehearsals for this term:

  • FRESHER'S SQUASH: Fri 14th Oct, 6pm
  • Tues 18th Oct, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'
  • Tues 25th Oct, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'
  • Fri 4th Nov, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'
  • Fri 18th Nov, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'
  • Fri 25th Nov, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'
  • Fri 2nd Dec, 6pm-7.15pm Beginners, 7.15pm-9.15pm 'Advanced'

Events

We have performed at many university events:

(as well as many workshops for schools, Brownie groups and local town events)

  • Wolfson College June Event 2011
  • Hughes Hall College May Ball 2011
  • Homerton JCR Garden Party 2011
  • HCMS Lent concert 2011
  • HCMS Michaelmas concert 2010
  • Homerton College Royal Charter Garden Party 2010
  • Homerton June Event 2010
  • Downing JCR Garden Party 2010
  • HCMS Michaelmas concert 2009
  • Robinson College May Ball 2009
  • Peterhouse College May Ball 2009
  • Murray Edwards College Garden Party 2009
  • Emmanuel College May Ball 2009
  • Churchill College Garden Party 2009