"Calypso and samba are perfectly harmonizable.” This is one of the reasons that inspired musician Rosalind Garnes to donate ten steel drums made in her home country, Trinidad and Tobago, to the Unicamp Music Department. The objective is to propagate the sound that she has become accustomed to hearing and performing since she was a child. The rhythm of Brazilians and the talent of music students at Unicamp inspired the instrumentalist. More: her daughter, Soluna Garnes, a music student at Unicamp, is the only steel drum student in Brazil. The expectation, according to the head of the Music Department, Esdras Rodrigues, is to form a steel drum orchestra, like those in Trinidad and Tobago.

University may have orchestra of drums

Molded with a hammer, the drums are made from oil barrels and have different timbres, similar to those of various classical instruments, including the violin, cello, bass and piano.

Rosalind came to Unicamp to hold a workshop with music students, which ended with a concert on the 11th, which was recorded on DVD by students from the Medialogy course and will be taken to Trinidad and Tobago. During the concert, Rosalind explained that the instruments are used for both popular and classical music. The repertoire included traditional pieces from their country and others known worldwide, including bossa nova and Beatles classics.

The students quickly unraveled the mysteries of the drums played by Soluna at the Institute of Arts, since 2003, the year he joined Unicamp. “It seems like these students have been playing the drums for many years. Because they are musicians, affinity becomes easier”, jokes Rosalind. As there was no such instrument in Brazil, Soluna brought it on the plane so she could study.

In addition to learning, the workshop was a fun experience, in the opinion of singer Claudia Noemi de Oliveira, a fifth-year lyrical singing student at Unicamp. The sung reading helped in the execution of the pieces proposed by Rosalind. “Calypso is very exciting and makes you want to dance. It’s impossible to play quietly, you have to enjoy the music.” The singer explains that there are two difficulties – holding the sticks and technically producing the sound. She had to manage two drums to proproduce the sound of the double second, which would be the cello in an orchestra. Rosalind's energy also pleased the students. “The teacher is very fun and has a cool way of expressing herself”, says Cláudia. “Reading sung makes it easier to perform,” she explains.

Soluna completed her degree in 2008, but spoke about the possibility of remaining in Brazil. When she asks her mother whether or not she is going to stay, Rosalind quickly replies: “Yes, she will stay”. The explanation comes next, with a broad smile: “I want to go back. I like Brazil".