Recently a friend brought it to my attention that there is a decline in 'Steelbandman/woman" What we have now is Panmen/women, what do you think?
You need to be a member of When Steel Talks to add comments!
This reply was deleted.
Recently a friend brought it to my attention that there is a decline in 'Steelbandman/woman" What we have now is Panmen/women, what do you think?
You need to be a member of When Steel Talks to add comments!
Replies
Mighty Sparrow - Outcast
If there is a negative connotation associated with the term "Steelband man/woman" then by proxy there is a negative connotation to the term steelband. I see no negative connotation. I only see the decline in the unit that is call the steelband. A steelband is on par or equal to a Symphony Orchestra which is comprised of it's core players and when needed a maestro or gifted musician is highlighted.
The driving force behind the unit that is called a steelband is the steelband man/woman but lately the bond that is shared within the unit is diminishing. What is more apparent are pannist who cannot function within the steelband unit but for so long or only in the Panorama realm.
It seems that there are very few steelbandmen/women around who live, eat and breathe steelband. T
The majority of pan players today are Panmen/women who cannot function in a steelband for any extended period of time. Only for a season for a reason $$$$$.
Yarbey, yes the steelband is on par with a Symphony but it is also uniquely different in that it is a family of pans, I don't think we as Trini fully understand how awesome that is, foreigners especially white people see it, that is why they love it the way they do. The use of the word PAN has contributed greatly to the decline of the word Steelband, people say Pan now and mean both the Instrument and the band.
I have to agree with you, for those who only see themselves in the Panorama context. The fact that there's a diminished interest in shows like Steelband Music Festival and no innovative thinking from the leadership in Pan Trinbago to showcase/promote the Steelband Orchestras, could be the reason for what you describe/see as a "decline in the unit called the steelband".
There is so much negative connotation associated with the term steelband man/woman going back to our colonial history, Sparrow’s “Outcast” comes to mind. Moving forward, I think it’s more acceptable/correct to say Pan man/woman to describe a musician who’s instrument of choice is the steel pan.
Very interesting odw, my take on it is, those that play pan today are only interested in panorama. [panmen/women] Steelbandman/woman lies in the interest of the band.