The Flamingo: Score
For a Minimum of Five Steel Drums, Plus Drumset, and Optional Bass Guitar
By Thom Hasenpflug
Item: 00-PR-0003887
$8.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
The Flamingo is a reference to the fun, neon-pink kind you might see at a hotel or restaurant in Palm Beach, Las Vegas, or Miami. The bass pans and bass guitar parts are similar, so the arrangement can be performed with either one omitted. Players may wish to use a bass guitar, along with the bass pan part, to help fill out the low-end frequencies and balance with the drumset.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Flamingo: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred's Steel Drum Ensemble Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
18
SKU:
00-PR-0003887
Instrumentation:
Steel Drum Ensemble
More about this title
Why we love this
Hasenpfug captures the visual and sonic energy of a neon-lit tropical getaway without resorting to cliché. The arrangement respects the acoustic properties of steel drums while offering real flexibility: directors can perform this with bass pan and bass guitar together, or confidently omit either one based on ensemble strength and available instrumentation.
What to expect
Bright, playful, and unapologetically fun. The piece channels the warmth and energy of tropical resort culture while the steel drums deliver their signature shimmering, percussive clarity. There's an ease to the ensemble sound that makes audiences smile from the first note.
Who it's for
Steel drum ensembles looking for contemporary, engaging repertoire that fits intermediate to advanced reading levels. This works equally well for school percussion programs with established steel drum sections, community ensembles, and professional or semi-professional groups seeking concert programming with broad appeal.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the bass frequencies deliberately. If running both bass pan and bass guitar, blend them in rehearsal rather than assuming they'll sit naturally together; steel drum timbre pairs differently with electric bass than traditional acoustic combinations do.
- Let the rhythm section lock early and stay locked. The steel drum ensemble thrives when the percussive foundation is rock solid, so prioritize groove stability over surface detail in early rehearsals.
- Shape the melodic lines with attention to the sustain characteristics of steel drums. These instruments decay quickly, so articulation and phrasing decisions matter more than they would on instruments with natural resonance.
How to use it
Pair this with other world percussion selections for a diverse concert half, or use it as a spring or summer program closer that sends audiences out energized. The vivid imagery makes it equally effective at educational demonstrations where you want to highlight what steel drum ensembles can do stylistically beyond traditional Caribbean repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing rhythmic independence across steel drum voices (lead, tenor, cello, bass pans)
- Balancing melody, counter-melody, and harmonic support within an ensemble of similar timbres
- Interpreting articulation and phrasing on instruments with rapid note decay
- Coordinating flexible instrumentation (adapting parts based on available bass instruments)
- Locking groove-based ensemble rhythms with consistent timekeeping