The Business of Panorama

The Business of Panorama
Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?

by Dalton Narine

Brooklyn, New York - ...No cheap shot this, but Pan used to ride high and mighty; now, alas, no direction home. It has strayed in the desert for too long ramajaying with Panorama, his gyul of 48 years. You know how many calypsos have bemoaned such relationship? Mos’ def, Pan needs a deputy. Bad. It needs an infusion of essentials to jack up its manhood. Fo’-day morning, one could hear chords and crescendos drifting in the breeze a long way from the pan yard, yet nobody would dare brisk their way into the Panorama to arrest the Carnival madness. Nobody wished to see the forest for the trees. Nor the music for the money. Any money.

Panorama bands are so hard to judge. The 2011 semis are over, and I made some observations.

Silverstars found a formula. Quick and frequent runs with a subdued, basic bass which elicits lots of attention from the quickness of the tenors. They sprinkle in a few timing changes and therein lies the appeal The basses were just too simple for me. Allstars pans just sounded sweet from the start. I think they got a bit carried away towards the last part of the tune and it became a bit boring and disjointed even though they introduced various looks with stops and off beats, I think they ended poorly. Phase II used what seems to me to be a bit of a cerebral approach, introducing all types of nuances to the music. Boogsie was playing with lots of theoretical elements which I fear may be his undoing. His intro was a really lovely mid-tempo concoction and the transition to the final tempo was seamless.
Arrangement being the highest element of the criteria, along with General performance, I have to hand the majority of those points to Boogsie. I probably would hand most of the General performance to Allstars. To me the other criteria are a wash. This leaves Silver Stars in third in my mind, but I know how the flashy speed of runs can taint the judges, so I would not be surprised if they manage a threepeat.

http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2011/guide/rules-2011.htm

Addendum to 2011 Rules

http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2011/news/addendum-to-Panorama-Rules...

6. Judging Criteria

6.1 Maximum Points for Adjudication – During each stage of the competition, every steelband shall be marked on the basis of a maximum of 100 points.

6.2 Adjudication Criteria – Each steelband shall be awarded points for the following categories:-

(a) Arrangement – a maximum of 40 points shall be awarded under this category

(b) General Performance - a maximum of 40 points shall be awarded under this category

(d) Rhythm - a maximum of 10 points shall be awarded under this category.

How does one interpret arrangement? Are there specific elements that must be included? What if a band had a "straight ahead" but really "sweet" arrangement? Just pure pan music that makes you want to move? I find the criteria really too vague.

Replies

Barry Linton February 25, 2011 at 9:11pm

Hello Mr. Narine,

Thank you for your comment and I mean no disrespect. Usually, when one is making a comment on a symposium like this,one should offer some solution(s).Maybe, if you can elaborate as to what your "infusion of essentials" means, the rest of us can get an idea as to what you are saying.Help us "see the forest for the trees."

I agree that something needs to be done.I have read, with great interest,some comments and offers of solutions,from other members who seem to have a grasp of this situation.Their credentials are both lenghty and admirable.At this time, I don't have a solution of my own to offer.I am hoping that you will enlighten us with a solution that will encourage further discussion.More than anything,I believe that this is what we need at this time.
david de castro February 25, 2011 at 6:03pm

WHAT A GREAT SET OF IDEAS.BUT WHO WILL LISTEN???PLEASE ADD ONE MORE SUGGESTION--

GIVE THE PAN A DAY ON THE ROAD. ONLY PAN ALL OVER TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.HOW ABOUT DISCOVERY DAY.

ONE DAY ONLY PAN.NO TRUCKS-NO BRASS-AND CERTAINLY NO D.J WITH THERE NOISE.

DO SOMETHING FOR PAN AND THE PEOPLE."THE BANDIT"
Lester Flax February 25, 2011 at 3:13am

Panorama bands are so hard to judge. The 2011 semis are over, and I made some observations.

Silverstars found a formula. Quick and frequent runs with a subdued, basic bass which elicits lots of attention from the quickness of the tenors. They sprinkle in a few timing changes and therein lies the appeal The basses were just too simple for me. Allstars pans just sounded sweet from the start. I think they got a bit carried away towards the last part of the tune and it became a bit boring and disjointed even though they introduced various looks with stops and off beats, I think they ended poorly. Phase II used what seems to me to be a bit of a cerebral approach, introducing all types of nuances to the music. Boogsie was playing with lots of theoretical elements which I fear may be his undoing. His intro was a really lovely mid-tempo concoction and the transition to the final tempo was seamless.
Arrangement being the highest element of the criteria, along with General performance, I have to hand the majority of those points to Boogsie. I probably would hand most of the General performance to Allstars. To me the other criteria are a wash. This leaves Silver Stars in third in my mind, but I know how the flashy speed of runs can taint the judges, so I would not be surprised if they manage a threepeat.

http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2011/guide/rules-2011.htm

Addendum to 2011 Rules

http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2011/news/addendum-to-Panorama-Rules...

6. Judging Criteria
6.1 Maximum Points for Adjudication – During each stage of the competition, every steelband shall be marked on the basis of a maximum of 100 points.

6.2 Adjudication Criteria – Each steelband shall be awarded points for the following categories:-

(a) Arrangement – a maximum of 40 points shall be awarded under this category

(b) General Performance - a maximum of 40 points shall be awarded under this category

(c) Tone - a maximum of 10 points shall be awarded under this category

(d) Rhythm - a maximum of 10 points shall be awarded under this category.

How does one interpret arrangement? Are there specific elements that must be included? What if a band had a "straight ahead" but really "sweet" arrangement? Just pure pan music that makes you want to move? I find the criteria really too vague.

This reply was deleted.