A Moment in Pan Music Misery - Brooklyn, New York - Forum

Brian McFarlane - (born 1957) is a Trinidadian Carnival artist, known as a "Mas' Man" in Trinidad and Tobago.

If one does not care about himself then how could some one else care about him? The picture of Noah Smith spoke volume as it shows exactly what people think of their art utinciles. For many years I spoke of that type of picture but no body listens as their only intent is to get notice for carnival and panorama. In all steelbands where ever you go you will see that type of storage for about ten months. the instruments is left to the different weathers, but come carnival time steelbands managements go out hustling money, paint, and other things for a short period of time, and the cycle is repeated year after year.

Again, I further contend that no steelband should be in that type of condition, as such, if you cannot store your instruments properly then you should not have that amount.

The cost of making a steelpan today is very costly, thus care and attention should be paid toward them at all time. In addition, a steelband does not truly need steel instruments beyond that for about fifty to sixty players. Look at Antillean All stars from San Fernando, Trinidad. In 1974, that band had only 65 players and should have won panorama that year with Shadow's Bassman. But because of their own making they fell away from their preliminary position to the final position. Henry Bendix Cumberbatch did not need a larger size band as his musical arrangement spoke loud and clear. Then in 1975 with a head count of 75 players, that band placed fourth when south got 1, 2, 4, final placings. For those who didn't know that, so it was and Carib Tokyo came in third.

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Pan Times November 3, 2021 at 4:10pm

Brian McFarlane - (born 1957) is a Trinidadian Carnival artist, known as a "Mas' Man" in Trinidad and Tobago.

If one does not care about himself then how could some one else care about him? The picture of Noah Smith spoke volume as it shows exactly what people think of their art utinciles. For many years I spoke of that type of picture but no body listens as their only intent is to get notice for carnival and panorama. In all steelbands where ever you go you will see that type of storage for about ten months. the instruments is left to the different weathers, but come carnival time steelbands managements go out hustling money, paint, and other things for a short period of time, and the cycle is repeated year after year.

Again, I further contend that no steelband should be in that type of condition, as such, if you cannot store your instruments properly then you should not have that amount.

The cost of making a steelpan today is very costly, thus care and attention should be paid toward them at all time. In addition, a steelband does not truly need steel instruments beyond that for about fifty to sixty players. Look at Antillean All stars from San Fernando, Trinidad. In 1974, that band had only 65 players and should have won panorama that year with Shadow's Bassman. But because of their own making they fell away from their preliminary position to the final position. Henry Bendix Cumberbatch did not need a larger size band as his musical arrangement spoke loud and clear. Then in 1975 with a head count of 75 players, that band placed fourth when south got 1, 2, 4, final placings. For those who didn't know that, so it was and Carib Tokyo came in third.

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Claude Gonzales October 28, 2021 at 12:26pm

Where is the story? I would like to read it!!!

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