Newsday
- Angelo Marcelle
THE EDITOR: I read with intense interest TTUTA’s March 22 column headlined “No respect for national instrument.”
Having researched pan’s plight and the lack of respect and recognition that successive governments have shown for this unique instrument that is our gift to the world of music, I discovered that pan – the instrument – was never officially proclaimed as our national instrument, let alone our national musical instrument.
In other words, although the descriptive word "national" is associated with pan, a word that fosters an historical sense of ownership, pride, patriotism, community, respect and identity, pan does not enjoy the same local and international status as do all our other national symbols.
Interestingly enough, pan is our "first national." It preceded our attainment of both independent and republican status and no doubt it can easily be certified as being a national long before the vast majority of us who enjoy music played on pan.
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