MICHAEL HUESTIS NUESTRO CANTO for steel band
Nuestro Canto by Michael Huestis © 2025 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
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PROGRAM NOTES
Nuestro Canto (“Our Song”) by Michael Huestis is an introduction to calypso music for young students. The piece features a traditional calypso “engine room” including parts for drumset and electric bass guitar. Atop that driving engine room floats a fun and energetic melody that will make performers and audiences alike smile from ear to ear. Nuestro Canto features the drumset with a written solo and even includes a fun chorus (rehearsal letter E) for performers to sing “Our Song.” Players should continue playing the written parts while singing the chorus. Nuestro Canto is also available for percussion ensemble, and the two versions may be performed together with both steel drums and standard keyboard percussion instruments.
Nuestro Canto is dedicated to Lalo and Julie Davila as a tribute to their friendship and their lifeme of dedication to the percussive arts.
—Michael Huestis
PERFORMANCE NOTES
• Steel drum parts may be doubled/tripled as desired to accommodate any size ensemble.
• Double seconds and triple guitars — Bring out moving 8th notes when present (i.e., mm. 36, 38, and 42).
• Bass guitar — Sustain long notes and listen to the drumset player’s bass drum. This part may also be played on a synth or MalletKat/MalletSTATION/etc.
• Triangle — Play muted on the staccato notes and unmuted on the “open” notes.
• Large cowbell — Hold in one hand and play with a large beater in the other hand.
• Congas — Place the high drum on the performer’s left. Play all notes open.
• Shaker — Preferably large and made of metal
• Brake drum — Play with the butt end of drumsticks. Find a slightly lower pitch for the left hand and a higher pitch for the right hand. Right hand should also be slightly accented.
CHORUS
EN ESPAÑOL
“Nuestro canto, ¡Qué chévere, qué chévere! nuestro ritmo, ¡Qué chévere, qué chévere! canto y ritmo pa’ ti.”
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
“Our song, How great, how great! our rhythm, How great, how great! song and rhythm for you.”
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Nuestro Canto requires 12+ players with the following instrumentation:
1. Tenor/Lead*
2. Double tenor*
3. Double second*
4. Triple guitar*
5. Bass*
6. Bass guitar
*may double as needed
NOTATION KEY
7. Drumset
8. Triangle
9. Cowbell
10. Congas
11. Shaker
12. Brake drum
NUESTRO CANTO
