Lately I've been thinking that one of the reasons that our beloved art form does not receive the popular recognition among the general public that it deserves, is because of the lack of an identifiable music genre associated with the instrument.
In the past , the pan was closely identified with calypso, and the music of the Caribbean , but today we seem to have moved away from that .
Most pan music played today fall into three categories ( or genres , if you prefer) :
Classical music , Jazz , and panorama music.
None of these music categories , though critically acclaimed by discerning music aficionados , and demanding of the highest skills and technical proficiency, could be considered popular music , especially with younger music lovers worldwide, who tend to gravitate to the popular music of the day, so called "pop" music.
As a matter of fact , some of us may not want to believe this ( since some of us pan people seem to live in a bubble) but most people's exposure to pan music probably comes from TV commercials, and movie background music , though in most cases the sound is probably assumed to be that of a synthesizer by the uninitiated to pan music , who of course are in the majority.
The esteemed Mr. Robert Greenidge has probably done more in the recent past to popularize the sound of the pan than anyone I can think of, because of his work in commercials , in movies , as a studio musician , and with the popular Jimmy Buffet Coral Reefer band.
So,again I ask the question.
For the steelband to achieve the worldwide exposure and popularity we all dream of as pan lovers, does it need an identifiable music genre ?
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Like I always say: There is "Pan" the instrument, then there is "Steel orchestra music". The instrument(s) will not only survive but will grow as Pan is incorporated into mainstream conventional bands. The music of conventional steelbands however is a very, very difficult global sell. That has much to do with the unique nature of the sound (the high resonance of rubber on tempered steel). Even when steel orchestras play pop music or classics the unaccustomed ear has difficulty getting it.
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Your point about the hard sell is well taken , Masai Hall , and you can include Panorama music as being hard to "get' for those unaccustomed to the sound.
But the instrument you refer to seems to apply only to the family of lead pans - tenors , double tenors and even to a certain extent the seconds..
However, I'm speaking about the entire steelpan family that create a steel orchestra.
Which is why I'm asking the question about the need for a popular music genre capable of a wider appeal.
Hi Glenroy.
Stop beating up yourself so man.... The pan is recognized world wide, and its genre is Caribbean music."full stop", I have been Playing and promoting the instrument a number of years now. I used to worry up just like you are doing now, but it is happening and has already happened in many cases to many people. Its slow and we both will never live to see the fullness that we wish for. I believe that the people who made the piano and other more used instruments today used to feel just the same. They are not here to see the fruits of their labor of love. In 1990 I used some music midi programs and synthesizers and they knew nothing of the beat Calypso and soca, guess what? it is now appearing in their software and Machines...Even though they don't have it quite CLEAN as yet. It will happen and take its rightful place with all the bells and whistles attached. Lol
I'm not beating up myself, Carlyle Houlder , just creating a discussion to exchange ideas.
That's what we do on this forum, lsn't it?
Pan is not main stream in T&T so we can't expect anything. What is needed is performers to start using steelband accompaniment for their music in T&T. The instrument is only used to play carnival music, they have to expreiment using vocals with a small side.
No, the steelpan is a musical instrument, just like the piano, sax, violin etc on which any type of
music can be played. you don't just play classical music on the violin or jazz on the piano. Why
should pan only play calypso? This would only limit pan as an instrument.
You are wrong , Anthony Corbin. And I keep hearing that refrain. The steel pan is not an instrument, it is a family of musical instruments that comprise an orchestra.
Over the centuries , specific music was created for orchestras comprising of a specific family of instruments; strings , brass and woodwinds,
Orchestras were even broken down into categories , like chamber Orchestras and Symphony orchestras.
Remember my copyright infringement discussion ? It was because the composer was specific as to the instruments his music should be played on in his copyright, and pan didn't qualify.
See my point?
That music wasn't created for pan ,we just play it.
I would argue that some of the best suited music for the pan was our original calypso rhythms that were popular around the time of the creation of the pan, particularly around the time when the pan had fully matured , in about the mid sixties IMHO..
Panorama is of course a pan music genre , but realistically would have difficulty appealing to a pop oriented market because of it heavily complex , classical structure.
Which is why I said "popular" genre in my question.
Oh , and BTW when we talk about music ,I use the term "pan" in its broadest sense , not in reference to the lead instrument.
I am a pan fanatic -That being said I think steel orchestras will always be a niche genre. I know people who are fanatics about the ukulele. They play in Uke orchestras (bass,baritone, tenor and soprano ukes, I know people who are mandolin fanatics - There are mandolin orchestras (again a family of musical instruments). I could go on about harmonica groups,marimbas etc. Another thing is to look at Jazz - It has been around for a century and still has very little traction with the general public. The best thing that can happen with pan is like what Bela Fleck did with the Banjo- play every genre, experiment and show its unique qualities through virtuoso performances.
Instrumental music seem to be a thing of the past, for the pan to be current it must have vocals, so it is up to pan people to make songs with pan accompaniment. The Pan has to create a place for itself on the music scene.
The task at hand is to make pan music popular, how do we do that?
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