Global- The first few images in “The Illustrated Story of Pan” (288 pages) that jumped up and grabbed my eyeballs seemed eerily familiar. It wasn’t the six or seven young men scratching out the early rhythm of the steel band on paint pans, biscuit drums and iron (brake drums). It was the setting. Leotaud Street in Gonzales, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The road, now noisy with percussion, is flanked by orderly rows of government houses in apple-pie order. The dwellings stand like sentinels commanding a view of history on the make.
....Johnson’s bewitching work doesn’t just address aficionados like myself, or the xenophobic crowd that stupidly believes Pan is we ting. “The Illustrated Story of Pan” acts as the portal vein to convey the blood, guts and ingenuity of the steel band to the wider world, which has long adopted the movement not only for its glory but also the romance of its pained, yet rich history.read more
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Well done Kim, congrats!!!
This is a book That I would surely buy. There is a steelband book on the history of Renegades Steelband which is very informative. Thats a book all Pan Lovers should also have.
Mr. Gonzales do you know of the History of the Sax or the Sitar . What were their Struggles to get Recognition and Acceptance and were these made of discarded materials by those of the Poorer Class from Poor Areas who were deprived of their Rights to express themselves and Practice their Religion and who were locked up for so called making noise and having their Instruments confiscated ? Listen to Dr. Sparrow's "Outcast " and you would understand where we have come from . To quote Dr. Stalin " If yer doh know where yer come from yer kar know where yer going " . And it is with that in mind that the SteelBand as an Instrument was able to develop in International Stardom . It is those who went through the struggles both Players and Supporters who know that Pan " Is we Ting " . The others have been handed it on a " Golden Platter " . Thanks .
Every Nation is Proud of it's achievements and Inventions so I believe we are correct in saying "Pan is we ting " and it is also with pride that we boast it was not only Born here but developed to International Status as an accepted Musical Instrument right here in T+T . As a Nation we deserve the recognition that " Pan is we ting " .
Steve:
When Adolphe Sax invented his instrument, have you ever heard Belgians hoarding it as we ting?
Same for the Sitar, the violin, etc.
What a grest review by the renowned Dalton Narine...Can you imagine the actual book I will not only have to get the book but to have it autograpgh by Dr. Kim Johnson himself . All Pan people need to have this book. I met Mr. Johnson a few years ago at a UTT office on a visit to Dr. Liverpool ( Chalkdust) when trying to get support for a "National Musical Literacy Program for the Pan Yards of T&T". Dr. Kim Johnson pointed out to me that along with the music theory, the history should be included and I immediately adapted and included the history ( based on his not quite completed book at that time.) in my proposal for the "National Musical Literacy Program for the Pan Yards of T&T.
Later on I tried to point out to the then Member of Parliament Junia Regrello not only about the proposal for the Pan Yards of T&T but that he should set up a library for every Pan Yard.
In this library He should have all these Books in the library, Steelpan history books , Steelpan Music theory books etc...
Well ........ it did not happen ....but this is something needed in every Pan Yard of T&T and the organization responsible for Pan in T&T should do something for Pan in this area.
Salah
Wekk done Kim