How about the Panorama People showing more love for those that compose Pan Tunes each year and make it mandatory that large and medium bands play New Music, don't you think we should always try and promote new music?
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I'm still trying to figure what is this 'pan tune' everybody's talking about.
Is it a piece of music specifically composed to be played on pan or is it a piece that a pan can play or sound good playing?
Bach was a master of Baroque music which translates well on to the pan, because of it's staccato mode, so many of his compositions could be considered 'pan tunes'.
Of course Bach never saw or heard a pan, otherwise he might have composed something for it, just as he did say for harpsichord, creating a pan tune in effect.
So if we are narrowing the discussion to music composed by pan players or arrangers as opposed to music composed by others, which are then adapted to the pan, then why would you want to limit the choices to only those pieces composed by pan players?
Long ago there was a 'rule' or an official or unofficial stricture which kept bands from playing previously recorded songs so that only new music was performed at Panorama.
Since then, along with shortening the compositions down to 8 minutes, bands were allowed to play anything from anytime provided they had not played it themselves before.
That led to what you are referring to retro-panorama pieces because the bands preferred to play familiar music that had already achieved some kind of recognition and following, than taking a chance on something that might not fly with the public.
This was exacerbated by the "downturn in the music" as described by Minshall, which meant that nice complex music was going out the window and jump and wave was now all the rage. 'New music' just did not cut it.
There is just so much that you can do about that, so arrangers opted to go back in time for both these reasons.
The thing is when bands first started playing 'own' music, they were at a disadvantage because the music was not really known widely, so the trend started where an arranger or composer linked with a popular singer to either write but at least to perform a lyrical accompaniment to their music and have that released to the public, in the hope that it became popular or at least familiar to the public.
Believe it or not, even though there is not a people's choice vote in Panorama, audience reaction does influence the judges who are by and large human, so it's important that the music be at least familiar and better yet catchy and/or popular.
The thing is, even the most popular melody can get lost in an extravagant panorama arrangement with its trills, chills and runs, so who is to say that familiarity might not just breed contempt in this case and a well worked arrangement of an unfamiliar piece, might be given the collective nod of the judges.
In any case, the vocal renditions of the 'pan tunes' usually come out much too late to become familiar, save to the die hard followers who actually seek them out.
I have heard panorama arrangements and said 'what the hell are they playing?' but even being unable to decide what was actual melody and what was arrangement, the performance was still enchanting.
It's much the same as when the tourists arrive just in time for the show and haven't a clue who is playing what, but could still determine what was good and what was not.
If arrangers/composers prefer to play their own music, (and some of them play other pan composers music with their own arrangements), then I say kudos to them since they demonstrate that they have the ability to do so.
They may deserve more respect than a arranger who simply chooses a popular tune as a starting point but comes up short in the arrangement.
It should be simply a matter of choice: a new piece every year like Boogsie, or a new arrangement of a new song from that year like Pelham, or a throw back to a 'retro piece as many are doing now.
Just bring an interesting and new take on the music with an exciting arrangement and hopefully the judges will reward you or least the people will.
Wayne Cezair, it good that we have people that compose music with the Steelband in mind, as it is in the Mecca they compose music to go after the big dollars and most times it's not pan friendly.
So far out of 41 Pan Songs 14 were picked up, the most popular is Nostalgia, 4 bands choose it and 2 choose Soca Have Them So.
Cecil,
You also have to consider what the Pan Tunes are up against at the Carnival, Road March prize money is BIG and it comes with a car from what I recall, radio station owners/management can issue directives to their dee jays to play specific tunes once every hour to promote which singer they want to WIN. Pan Trinbago doesn’t own any radio station I know of and who knows how many artistes have to PAY for air PLAY.
There is no reason why Pan Trinbago cannot buy air time on radio and TV to promote pan tunes if they wish, ODW.
But at Carnival time in Trinidad, (and I'm talking Trinidad, not New York) people are preoccupied with "Carnival music ".
With few exceptions, pan tunes are not seen as Carnival music.
Btw, this is just another area that may benefit by moving panorama away from Carnival.
odw, I hear what you are saying, but I still feel the people in the Mecca see the Pan Tune as a threat to their rule, one that they have no control over.
One of these days we'll realize that you cannot "mandate"people's musical choices.
Music, like food or drink , is a matter of taste.
Either you like it or you don't.
Which is why some tunes become hits, and some don't.
I do not know if it is a matter of promotion, but few pan tunes capture the interest and attention of the public at Carnival time, and this has to negatively affect the panorama.
You are very kind, Mr.Joseph, to suggest that "PROMOTION" might be the issue leading to the failure of these pan tunes to capture the interest and attention of the public.
How about a bunch of UNSKILLED and SELF-SERVING wannabe calypso composers looking to play themselves. But the TRINIDAD PUBLIC know GOOD CALYPSO from BAD hence the UTTER FAILURE of these songs.
All they do is take tested PAN RUNS and try to PASTE some lyrics over them. Since the singers have ZERO VOCAL SKILLS they end up chasing the lyrics as they try to keep up with movement of the music.
RENDITION is one of the FUNDAMENTALS of GOOD CALYPSO. And in the context of this NEW ERA OF PAN TUNES -- RENDITION takes a BACKSEAT.
There was a little bit of a change this year which leads me to hope for some continuity next year. But they do not stay on course with that music for very long, so I will not be surprised to see regression in 2017.
Glenroy last year the management of Saddis and Led Pipe submitted their massive global Caribbean party hit 'Ah Feeling, Ah Feeling' to WST for entry into the 2015 Pan tunes. Although the song was essentially ignored by Trinidad & Tobago orchestras for the 2015 Panorama season, the song met huge successes in all the panoramas around the world. It has also now become a favorite for performing college steel ensembles and orchestras. Trinidad & Tobago panorama might not be the defining moment for all tunes for Panorama.
Pan Times, at 3:08am I now realize the politics behind this topic. The pan tune has put WST in a confrontational position with people in the Mecca and they don't like it because of the foreign content. The Pan Tune is only real to the members of WST, this is why certain people keep their music away from WST, this goes deep.
Regardless of what they think in the Mecca, WST is accepted Globally by people that love the Steelpan/Steelband, social media has made the world small and success could depend on how well it is used.
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