A Theme For Steel [10 inch] - Casablanca Steel Orchestra 1952 - Videos

This piece brings back special memories.

Pan may have been "Born" in the 1930s , but the "celebration" of its birth actually came in 1945 when the government allowed street celebrations of the end of World War II , and by Carnival 1946 saw the steelbands in their glory on the streets.

I was born in 1945 , and the sound of steelband , with all its changes over time ,has been a part of the musical soundtrack of my life , along with calypso , pop and other genres.

And to me , from day one , the steelband has always provided sweet , musical rhythms attuned to my Trinidad culture , which I took for granted as a "born Trinidadian".

So , music that sounds primitive today was new , exciting and fresh back when it was performed , and created lasting memories.

My first steelband parade was in 1952.

I was about six or seven , and attending St Paul's Anglican school in San Fernando .

I remember that for Discovery day that year there was a school parade that featured a steelband , believe it or not.

I've come to believe this was no coincidence , since the priest at St. Paul's at that time was Cannon M. E . Farquhar.

Cannon Farquhar was an early and important advocate in Trinidad society for the steelband and its people , so the presence of a steelband at that parade was no accident.

This tune by Casablanca reminds me of the simple ( but enjoyable) chord structures played by the steelband that Discovery Day , so many years ago.

(Discovery Day used to be celebrated on August 1st.).

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Comments

Fitzy T. Spencer November 6, 2016 at 2:22pm

Glenroy,

Thanks for that piece of history on discovery day, never knew it existed.
Glenroy R Joseph November 1, 2015 at 10:36am

This piece brings back special memories.

Pan may have been "Born" in the 1930s , but the "celebration" of its birth actually came in 1945 when the government allowed street celebrations of the end of World War II , and by Carnival 1946 saw the steelbands in their glory on the streets.

I was born in 1945 , and the sound of steelband , with all its changes over time ,has been a part of the musical soundtrack of my life , along with calypso , pop and other genres.

And to me , from day one , the steelband has always provided sweet , musical rhythms attuned to my Trinidad culture , which I took for granted as a "born Trinidadian".

So , music that sounds primitive today was new , exciting and fresh back when it was performed , and created lasting memories.

My first steelband parade was in 1952.

I was about six or seven , and attending St Paul's Anglican school in San Fernando .

I remember that for Discovery day that year there was a school parade that featured a steelband , believe it or not.

I've come to believe this was no coincidence , since the priest at St. Paul's at that time was Cannon M. E . Farquhar.

Cannon Farquhar was an early and important advocate in Trinidad society for the steelband and its people , so the presence of a steelband at that parade was no accident.

This tune by Casablanca reminds me of the simple ( but enjoyable) chord structures played by the steelband that Discovery Day , so many years ago.

(Discovery Day used to be celebrated on August 1st.).
Mercer Ramdoo October 31, 2015 at 5:12pm

Four chord music. Nice and yuh chippin' and chippin'.
Cecil hinkson May 7, 2013 at 11:44pm

Music bands always played this back in the day, no matter what tune they were playing they would go into it, they used it as a jam part in a tune.
Steve "Carter" K. May 7, 2013 at 1:46pm

Paddy your post says that Pan was 13 years old when this was made making 1939 and the Birth year of Pan. It shows the amazing development as a Musical Instrument and this label has the Composers as Arthur DeCoteau and Ormond Haynes telling us that from such an early stage Pan men were composing and playing their own music on their own hand made Instruments. Just BRILLIANT.
paddy corea May 7, 2013 at 9:03am

WHAT MEMORIES. PAN WAS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD THEN.

This reply was deleted.