I have to say that I was captivated by the sound of the steelpan at the age 5. Travel across North America from 1975 to 2005, attending the different Trinidad Styles Carnivals, enjoying my cultures, especially steelpan shows.
We invested $35 million dollars to develop and patent the G-Pans different voices. The Global market want the steelpans, the steelpan movement would like to see this project continuing thru the manufacturing of the G-Pans for the local and international market.
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Replace ‘steel drum,’ ‘pan’ with new name
Praise is due to Pan Trinbago and other relevant authorities for the recent musical extravagance, Steelfest, throughout the country as part of activities marking our 50th anniversary of independence. First, may I ask for another gesture, at this time, to fully honour this distinctive invention. How would it be if we created an original name to replace “pan” and “steel drum?”
Neither of these words embraces the brilliance of this musical invention; neither of these distinguishes the intense creative skills our pan diviners/leaders held and still hold. This new title, I suggest, should be created from the roots of an African language, in the main, together with other languages appropriate to our T&T culture.
Now to the exquisite nature of each performance at the last session of Steelfest. Trinidad All Stars and the Shenzken Aihua Troupe of the Republic of China were indeed remarkable. When the fusion took place certain musical dynamics seemed to have been achieved, showing that national indigenous instruments could mesh and mix like human identities.
It was so totally enjoyable that I anticipated another winning test—both bands turning to T&T with Woman on the Bass, to take us chipping out of this world (auditorium). No such thing occurred. I am sure that, like myself, many in the audience left in bewilderment that not one of our own calypsoes was rendered. What a world it would be if we dignify what is ours deservedly.
Dr Yvonne Bobb-Smith
Port-of-Spain
With all due respect to the doctor, we are not Africans, descendents yes. Pan and Steelpan are the names we Trini people gave to those instruments, why should we change it, seeing that the world is accepting it for what it is.
Trinidad has been one of the pioneers of recycling, early in the game wise men saw that we can make an instrument from empty garbage cans; the rest is history. We should be proud to stand in Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and any music hall the world over and say This is the PAN made by Trinis loved by all. [Royce I hope I got your logo correct] Change the name BAD IDEA.
Do we have to wait another 50 years in the steelpan fraternity to get any kind of results?
I am just fed-up with all the talk's - negative or positive about the status of the steelpan movement.
After observing the working of the US political systems. I came to the conclusions you have to continuing LOBBYING the Government of the day for what you want. Ask and you shall received. It is time in T&T we wake up and smell the coffee, we are talking new politics, the peoples politics.
I identify 4 projects we have to LOBBY the Government to remind them we are aware of their political game they play.
These are the 4 projects:
1 The completion of PanTrinbago Headquarters
2 The full implementations of Pan in the Classroom
3 The manufacturing of the G-Pans for the Global market.
4 Development of the steelpan industry i.e. Pan Stands, Pan Cases, Pan Sticks, Panorama DVD, Panorama CD, Merchandising etc for the Global market.
Lobbying is recurring, no time frame, it is a continuing reminder to the Government we are watching you.
Cecil, all the tuners would be absorb into the systems, the current individual tuners would retiree in about 10 years. UTT & UWI are currently developing their programs to train the future tuners.
Terry, although I am all for the mass production of the G-Pans if other tuners are making different pans we will have a serious problem, it will be like we are fighting against our self. Anywhere we turn we come back to standardization, all tuners making G-Pans or what ever pans, they all must be the same.
JUST DO IT.