Performed at Honoka's DMA recital at The Hartt School on February 7, 2025.

The Gyil (pronounced jee-lee), is the grandmother of the mallet keyboard family. It is made from fourteen wooden slats that are suspended, on a frame, over calabash gourds. Its sound is like our marimba, yet more "earthen" in character. It is the national instrument of the Lobi and Dagara people of Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Côte D'Ivoire. Throughout West Africa, people believe that its "woody" sound comes from an internal vibration of water that physically balances water in the bodies of people and animals. In Ghana, the gyil is present in daily life; from weddings and funerals to dances and everyday recreation. Fra Fra Song is the Dagara people’s interpretation of a particular song of their neighbors to the East, the Frafra people. Ni Fa Mik Pee is a song from Kalba Suru in the LobilBrifo and Dagara area of Upper West Region of GhanaKpanlogo is a Ghanaian recreational music and dance form associated with the Ga ethnic group, who are traditionally located in the Greater Accra Region, which is in the South of the country.

Performed by Honoka Masuyama on double tenor pan at her DMA recital at The Hartt School on February 7, 2025.

Composer, arranger, and steelband virtuoso Len “Boogsie” Sharpe is a legend in Trinidad, the island that invented the instrument. Sharpe began his career with Starlift Steelband, where he worked as a co-arranger with Ray Holman. He is most strongly associated with the Phase II Pan Groove Steel Orchestra, a band he has taken to several finals of Panorama steelband competition, as well as winning first place in 1987 and 1988. Sharpe does not teach steelpan privately one-on-one; instead, he teaches it publicly at the panyard. Short and Sweet are two short and relaxing pieces written for double seconds.

Special thanks to Kyle Dunleavy for crafting this beautiful set of double tenor pans, whose exceptional workmanship made this performance possible.

Performed at the Hartt School for the Hartt Percussion Ensemble's 75th Anniversary Concert on April 12, 2025.

Cha Cha Lekpa Fun is a generic rhythm in Yoruba religious ceremonies. Traditional bata drumming is played at the ceremonies of the Yoruba religion, Santeria. The ensemble is made up of three drums: jyá (mother drum), itótele (or omelé enkó), and okónkolo (or simply, omele). Iya, the largest and lowest pitched drum, is the lead instrument in the ensemble. It is assigned the most complicated rhythms and has the most freedom for embellishment. Itótele is the middle sized drum. It engages in occasional variation as well as regular conversation with the iya. Okónkolo, the smallest drum, is generally confined to rhythmic ostinatos.

Performers: Ben Toth (Iyá), Honoka Masuyama (Itótele), Hannah Moore (Okónkolo)

Performed at the Hartt School for the Hartt Percussion Ensemble 75th Anniversary Concert on April 12, 2025.

Performers: Jordon Wiersema (tabla), Honoka Masuyama (riq) Yuchen Yan (tar), and Ben Toth (doumbek).