Has Trinidad and Tobago dropped the ball on the steelpan?

Conspiring To Pigeonhole Pan, And That’s Cool?
  by Les Slater -

Chairman of the T & T Folk Arts Institute and former Highlanders Steel Orchestra arranger

Global - I don’t know if he remembers making the comment or still is of that view, perhaps more than twenty years later, but no less a pan-world figure than Boogsie Sharpe once said to me that if pan had been invented in Jamaica, it would have made greater progress. The particular reference to Jamaica (or anyplace else, for that matter) in that context might precipitate some spirited give-and-take. But be that as it may, there’s no doubt lots of us have had occasion, over time, to ponder the path pan has traveled, and whether we Trinidadians, as its creators and gatekeepers of record, have come anywhere close to affording ample opportunity for pan to realize its full potential.
read more

You need to be a member of When Steel Talks to add comments!

Join When Steel Talks

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • happy birthday in advance Carlyle, few people know that you were the one that gave Liam his earliest lessons, he forgot to mention your name when he was giving credits, in an interview years ago, but I know and there are people who know, one thing that made me proud of him in that same interview was that he recognised that that there were people more skilled than him working many times harder at it that were not as blessed as he was, he is stepping up to the plate and really now getting curious with the steel, and his articulation is great now, Pan is a wonderfull instrument and I do not believe that my curiousity will ever stop, All I do is pan, I play it I make it, and sometimes I will mesmerize myself and will get tickled pink by what this steel can do. sometimes it may seem that pan is sinking into oblivion, based on how it is presented by those whom the gods favour, what some arrangers and players do with it, even the most succesfull amongst us have some beef or the other, even the highly paid non trinis,"A luta continua"
  • Mr Slater?

                     So very well articulated....In reading your article...well!! I tried saying what you have said...but i guess I did not have The Genius as you have.

                      I am not known by many people in Trinidad and Tobago. But, I have been making My contribution to the Instrument since 1969. I Had a lot of confidence in and was inspired by Mr. George Goddard (snr.) Now deceased, and was happy to Learn of Mr Goddard (junior). If he was alive at this time, I would believe That he would have certainly express your views in the very same way.

                      I gave up on trying to promote the instrument at home. The hard work did not pay off and i was Loosing my family...after 27 years. 7 days a week in the pan yard...taught a couple hundred people to play....only got one success. A big one though.... Liam Teague. He is now a 'BIG MAN" and he deserves every ounce of success he is having now.

                      I played the instrument just as you have indicated...along side all other conventional instruments. I was just unable to introduce it into the Watty Watkins Ballroom Orchestra because I was Just attempting to understand My other new instrument the Organ,which was a must in his band. I can certainly say that we as Creative People are Complacent about what we have. I have gained a wealth of experience....tomorrow I celebrate my 58th birthday.....I still Promote the Instrument,but not in T&T In fact I have been making a really decent living from the instrument ....When on one occasion in a Pan Trinbago meeting, I stood up and Made a suggestion of what direction the Instrument should go...I was Laughed at and discredited by some of the more affluent executive members. I was a delegate representing my band at this very important meeting. I used that very same Idea and well!!!  I not only spoke of my Ideas, but i had written a document on the Promotion and advancement of the instrument and gave it to the organization. I was the very first person ever to set up a Regional Office.  It was located on Cipero Street in San Fernando. I know that there are still a few Good gatekeepers,some at sea and some on Land. I had the privilege and honor to meet Robbie and the Trini Posse at the Tree house in L.A. Selywn Toby in New York,Dennis Smith with whom I perform. it is so good to know that these guys still keep the flag flying. I left a copy of My music at the Bar of the Tree House for their Listening pleasure. Carlyle I Houlder

  • To address the issue of steel bands making a local "joyful noise" in the streets outside of Panorama:

    Trinidad bands could go down the road with much more ease, not only during Carnival but whenever they want, really, if they got some trolleys made instead of using their Panorama racks.

    Virgin Islands steel bands have a powerful presence in Carnival parades on all three islands - St Thomas (both Childrens and Adult Parades), St John and St Croix. Using double-decker trolleys, instead of racks, makes going down the road much easier for our bands, which are typically 25-40 members. The Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, with almost 150 members, uses a 'train' of three trolleys.

    You can see the Love City Pan Dragons Youth Steel Orchestra on our trolley in the 2011 St Thomas Childrens Parade in three YouTube videos. Check our website, www.pandragons.org, for the featured video and links to several more that our fans have uploaded.

    • The idea of specially designed vehicles to carry full sized steelbands on the road at Carnival definitely needs to be seriously looked into, even sectional units that could be assembled on site.

      This may be a worthwhile investment for the steelband community to consider.

  • Once again.  Competition does NOTHING to advance steelband music, in Trinidad.  All the emphasis on Panorama and other competition stifiles real creativity, since everyone seeks to imitate or co opt the sound of the winning bands.  There is so much music styles for the steel OCHESTRAS to explore.  Lets keep an open mind, Trini competition culture notwithstanding.
  • I take exception to Len Boogsie 's remark. Our pan men  have taken this wonderful invention to the four corners of the globe. we are probably the only country  in the world where this complex instrument is played as a national instrument. our schools and our young people are encouraged to practice for long hours to achieve the  level of professionalism and discipline necessary  to play  the steelpan. If Pan has not progressed more extensively it is not because  our country has not invested heavily in its promotion; rather it is the deep commitment, the long  hours of practice and most importantly to  play pan for the love of the  instrument.
  • In my opinion Pan is doing just fine, at no time in history there were Pan in so many countries.  Most high schools and universities in the US have steelbands; recently a student graduated from Berkley using pan as her principal instrument. Salah Wilson did the same years ago in Montreal.  Pan would only get better seeing that it is all over the world, but in Trinidad there is reason for concern about the steelband. Again I would like to stress that Pan and Steelband is not the same thing, Pan is the instrument that steelbands use. 

                    Any meaningful solution for the present state of the steelband [not pan] inT’dad would have to come from abroad.  The attitude of people in T’dad is that things are going to workout for itself and we know that is not going to happen.

    The discussions held at Medgar Evers University should have happened years ago in Trinidad, it is good to know that there are people who are willing to study the present situation and if possible share there solutions with the movers and shakers of the steelband movement.

    The government has to be the caretakers of the Pan, not PanTrinbago. This is our culture; we need people with the resources to research, develop, and make sure that steelbands partake of the revenue that carnival generates. Carnival is a big money making machine for people that have nothing to do with the steelband and it’s a shame, seeing it is history.

    Tough decisions have to be made concerning the steelband and carnival and it’s up to the government and PanTrinbago to make them.

    In order to bring steelbands up to speed with the 21st century we have to design racks to carry about 70+ players. These racks could have two levels but made in a way that the players could see one another; and then find the right way to amplify the instruments making sure to maintain their natural sound. Here is where our universities could get involved or invite tenders.

    Players must know when they sign on with a steelband that it is for the carnival season not only for panorama, their job is to supply music for the people who pay to play mas. Steelbands must have two crews so that when one is resting the other maintains the flow of music.

    After the steelband people understand what is required of them the government must step in and make every mas band that comes on the road hire a steelband. Another solution is to make carnival   Tuesday for pan only.

     

     

    • I would like to see Pan Only on Carnival Monday Rather Than Tuesday.If so a fixed route can be created.
      • Lloyd I only said Tuesday because more people play mas on Tuesday, If we could have all the big mas on Monday most people would play with a steelband on Tuesday.

         

        • Cecil the only reason why i suggested steelbands only on carnival Monday ,is because of the younger /adult pan players will have the opportunity to play mas and or enjoy the one day as a reveller and witness the parade of the masqueraders.
This reply was deleted.