The State of the Steelpan - Mark Loquan
Trinidad - I was following from afar the events unfolding in the pan world with some of the latest controversies around payment for pan players, the Ministry and Pan Trinbago appearing not to have a common vision for the instrument and its players, statements on Panorama killing pan, statements on pan in the classroom at risk, the lyrics and message of Boogsie's song, talks of boycotting panorama at one point, etc.
It reminded me of 2 songs I wrote (not for Panorama), one talking about the where all the panmen disappeared after Panorama, looking to make a living outside, not getting paid or appreciated in their own country in a song called "Whey de Panman?" and another talking about a world which was wishful for the future, how pan could be in "Another Time, Another Place". These songs were written in 1999, over a decade ago, for my album Passion for Pan. Kind of makes me reflect on what has changed in that time period.
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Steelpan Players should be appointed as members of the diplomatic corp around the world. To bring awarenes to our National Instrument and Pride. Very few countries can claim a national instrument
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Greetings to all
Allow me please to say this.
I attended the funeral of Wendell Joseph at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Independence Square in Port-of-Spain today, in my capacity, representing my band. There was only standing room outside at the facility for those of you that know the venue. At least two thousand people. All funerals are sad, but that particular one, was beyond that. The outpouring of grief was incomprehensible. It was a benchmark for an escalating crisis, that has now reached an epic proportion, way beyond the crumbs of money that is being offered. The human resource, the source of our creative capital in the movement from Desperadoes practice venue to all points beyond is under siege with life and limb critically hanging in the balance.
The President of PanTrinbago, Keith Diaz gave an emotional sobering reality in an address at the funeral about the situation that occurred last night at UNISTARS panyard after the meeting, that took the life of Henry Cyrus, almost taking the life of my friend Michael Green,...and leaving innocent lives precariously hanging on in the departure lounge.
I visited Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille to offer my condolences last night close to the time that that incident at UNISTARS occurred. There were more soldiers and police officers stationed there than PM Persad-Bissessar has in her own security detail, offering peace with the gun.
It is very simple.....the situation is getting worse by the moment. The longer that the Prime Minister keeps PanTrinbago, and by extension the fraternity waiting for an audience, the more the government is going to want to deal.
If PanTrinbago's executive continues to contemplate making decisions on this impasse of pittance being offered with their hearts, then all that the movement will end up with is heart disease,....more death, more grief and more suffering. The single most powerful tool for winning a negotiation is the ability to walk away from the table without a deal.
We all want Panorama for 2011 but now this is bigger than that. It is about lives innocently being snuffed out for what......Money can't buy life or longevity. President Diaz, I know that you are following the comments on this forum as indicated in our discussion at the church today. I am praying to my God and begging you and your executive to do the right thing, do something for pan.........leave a legacy of knowing that your team did the right thing at the right time with no regrets lest the grim reaper shall come knocking again on our door. Who feels it knows it
TICK TOCK..TICK TOCK ...the clock is running....and.....time is running out!
Manager - Power Stars Steel Orchestra
How sad and concerning. I am also a pannist and from Charlotte Street, (next to... as well) and one wonders who comes onto the compound of that steel orchestra given rise to turf and gang war.
During break period, most members mingle on the pavement -- chit-chatting with visitors (family, relative, friend or spouse); who will know when someone who is on the compound shouldn't be there? The band is nestled way into the yard, so can you imagine some sicko decides to pass-by (whether for fun or no fun) and decides to spray bullets with the hope that it reaches the correct target who could possibly be deep within it yard?
Why don't they, instead of associating with metal that brings their life and others pain and grief, associate with metal that brings joy and comfort?
That metal is pan: Play a pan; hold a pan rack or something. Hold a hammer and learn to sink a pan. Hold a blow torch and weld two pieces of steel together and make a pan rack and, at the end of their task, the $200 less that the pannists are angry over will look like small change. That if the evidently idle, empty-minded shooter had used his self in a positive way, would say 'put my $200 towards charity' or encourage others to do so because, through their daily tasks involving the use of positive metal would bring them thousands and thousands of CLEAN money.
Why not live and let live?
I think he/she should them self in to the authorities.
How much money could someone pay me to illegally take the life of another?
Are these shooters thinking of themselves as so low and cheap that someone bigger fool will offer you even $1,000,000. to bring destruction to society.
One million dollars to be used in such a manner becomes valueless, low, nasty, cheap money.
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I saw a wonderful pan man playing on the streets of Port of Spain sometimes by Republic Bank. This is the mark of a true artist. He makes some of his living that way. I believe that pan men should be playing in every local event and in bands and musical ensemble and in every genre of music. With organized bands in Trinidad some export as ambassadors to the world. The others here in Trinidad should be utilized on our ships to Tobago and south Trinidad. They can be used in and throughout the Caribbean in all events such as in the hotel industry and casinos. Pan has gone beyond competition and is used in every genre. I encourage panmen to record your music and promote via the Maxi Taxis and Buses in Trinidad. Give away Cd's and Mp3 so that people can hear this wonderful music as an alternative in the mix of exported music from abroad. we are not saying get rid of foreign music but we are saying add to the mix with the sweet music of the pan even if it is not only pan in the songs. I use pan in my music though it is a fusion of sorts and not always calyso. So with this so versatile artist here we should collaborate with other artist both locally and abroad in a dynamic networking of musical minds. As there is soundclick so let there be the virtual interactions and interactions locally. i would promote a local network as this one which is exactly what we need to continue in. I hope that music with pan in it can also be featured here. I would love to work with all panmen if I could as I am entering the international arena. You can get me at greigmonk@gmail.com.
Much love for this wonderful song by such a wonderful artist Mark Loquan. I will search for you on You tube and add you to my friends list. I am christian and speak much about Christ but I believe what you are doing is Laudable to say the least Mark. Much love to you.:0) Shalom.
We have to extend the pan season so that the panman can have something to do after Carnival.
If the panorama is held later in the year as a separate festival from Carnival, panmen can devote themselves fully to participating in the carnival, learning and playing popular carnival tunes.
it will take some doing to reestablish the steelband in parties and on the road at carnival , but it can be done if we focus on it.
Then after carnival pan people can focus on making Panorama in Trinidad the greatest pan festival in the world. I know that panorama can be successful separated from Carnival.
This will give the panmen two big festivals in the year, the carnival season AND the panorama season.
.I've been singing this song for some time now,but most of us are resistant to even thinking about change.
Mark, there is that saying that out of every bad thing there is something good that can emerge from it. If nothing else the actions and the perceived bad remarks and policy of the Arts & Culture Minister and by extension the government of T&T towards the Panorama and the funding for 2011 season, has served as a catalyst to spark various discussions about the Pan, Panorama, Pan Trinbago etc…. It has also served as a force for worldwide mobilization of the Steelpan community. Change comes about because of situations that arise due to the cause and effect syndrome. The concept of a Petition to appeal to the government of T&T to reverse their policy goes beyond talk, it is indeed an action and initiated by the World’s Steelpan Community, so it is beyond Trinidad and Pan Trinbago. Why this is an important development is because its intent is to make the government become aware that the world is watching and are concerned about what they do and say. But it will also serve the same purpose as regards Pan Trinbago or any other issue. It is also why it is important that the World ‘s Steelpan Community come together and unite for the common good of the future of the Pan. Many great ideas and suggestions have presented themselves in these discussions. As a national in the Diaspora ( presently in T&T). I am appealing to you to push this last week for more signatures for this Petition, by now engaging your friends and families to sign up to make the Unity statement more viable. Let us cross one bridge at a time…this bridge is the issue with the gypsy and the removal of the $200 .TT from the people who needs it the most and have rightly earned it for their work of Pan practice leading up to the Preliminary competition. More signatures needed for the Petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nationals-and-steelpanlovers
Salah
I have added some thoughts on
http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2011/news/whey-de-panman.htm
Sorry I appear as an anonymous user when posting, but I subsequently wrote a note.
Mark
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