Pan Sonatas Supremacy

[Kurleigh Lowe]

It has been nearly two weeks since the Pan Sonatas Steel Orchestra was decided as the 2009 New York Panorama champions. There is no doubt that Sonatas was among the top three bands that night -- the other two being CASYM and ADLIB steel orchestra. However, it was surprising that Sonatas won by such a wide margin in a competition where many thought it was a toss up between the top three.Speaking with folks on the grounds of the museum Panorama night, many persons were picking any one of this big three to win -- each with their own specific reasons:"Sonatas had a better development of the piece.""CASYM got de fire.""ADLIB was crazy -- he mixed the DISNEY theme song in there!! CRAZY!!."These are some of the arguments I heard speaking with various persons I met that night. Personally, I felt CASYM was best that night -- but what do I know? The judges placed them third! Casym executed their passages with a clarity that sounded superior to Sonatas and ADLIB. I felt ADLIB was doing too much too often -- sometimes, less is more. Click here for full blog.