Victor Prescod - Performer, Educator and Adjudicator - In the Spotlight
On judging, Victor believes that one of the things that needs to be looked at is the
criteria for judging.
“Many times persons fault
the adjudicators for results, but the adjudicators can only work
within the established criteria. And - competition is a strange thing
when it comes to music. Because, there are some who say competition
stifles creativity - and in a sense, it may. Once you enter a
competition there are criteria. And if you are hopeful of being
successful in the competition, then you need to address the
criteria. What I have found is very often - the arrangers of music for
pan, may not fully understand the criteria under which they
are being judged. So that - arrangers are creative, so they
get into a lot of the creativity which does not necessarily address
the criteria...”
In speaking directly to the competing arrangers, Victor goes on further to say that
“the tendency - for most of the competitions I’ve has judged - you
have 40 points for arrangement, 40 points for general performance,
10 - tone, 10 - rhythm etc. But under arrangement you look for
things like melodic development, motific development, and
re-harmonization. A number of times, arrangers will move
the melody around, within the pans. So you play the melody with
the front line pans, you move it into the midrange, move it into the
background, you bring it back, you might change the key - but you
still have the same melody. You’ve never developed the
melody. While you’re doing this, there’s lots of lovely
things happening around the melody with the other pans - but the
melody itself has not been developed. So that the music sounds
good to the average listener. But melodic development never
happened. So you’ve lost points there, and your band does not
win, and you say ‘But de judges tief!!’....”
Victor explains the similar misconceptions arrangers and fans have with
harmonization and the jam session. “Sometimes
- arrangers simply change the key. So you have the same basic
chord structure - in a new key. You have not re-harmonized...
or you go into the jam session - (this is my favorite one), lots of
- lots of creative music happening in the jam session, that has
nothing to do with the piece that’s being arranged. So that if
you take a jam session from Phase II, and you drop it into an
arrangement by Renegades that happens to be in the same key, it will
work - because it’s just music that has no reference to [the] tune.
And that may be - a minute and a half of music that really, does
nothing towards the criteria, and no marks are really given for it - but
it sounds good!....”
click for more panonthenet.com/spotlight/2009/vprescod-1-09-09.htm
Replies
Great explanation Victor and it has opened up my eyes to the complexity of judging Panorama. I for one, am more of a steelband fan than a music major so this explanation explains a lot that I didn't know before. Trust me I'll be listening for the points positive & negative that you raised today!! Thank you.
then Silver Stars should win the Panorama according to you.
Very interesting article with lots of insight and knowledge. Thanks for posting.
This part in particular resonated with me:
" A number of times, arrangers will move
the melody around, within the pans. So you play the melody with
the front line pans, you move it into the midrange, move it into the
background, you bring it back, you might change the key - but you
still have the same melody. You’ve never developed the
melody. While you’re doing this, there’s lots of lovely
things happening around the melody with the other pans - but the
melody itself has not been developed. So that the music sounds
good to the average listener. But melodic development never
happened. So you’ve lost points there, and your band does not
win, and you say ‘But de judges tief!!’....”
I quite understand about the Criteria Arrangement 40 pts, what I cant understand is what is considered "General Performance 40 pts", is dancing, etc comes under that Criteria?
So Panorama 2015 has come and gone…and here we are…again…as we no doubt will de next year and for all the years hence discussing and cussing Panorama. To me two salient points stand out in this interview.
(1)…He also laments the “insufficient emphasis placed on [music] literacy. Because I think (as a musician), you are handicapped if you cannot read and write music….
If it's one thing that Panorama is not improving is individual Panists appreciation of the importance of Music Literacy. The government $1,000.00 cheque plus the now universal acceptance of pan prostitution makes sure that most panists will have no interest in the effort they put for those six or so weeks, more than collecting money at the end of the excercise.
and (2)….Victor maintains that “...a number of times, arrangers try to do so much with their music, that it may be difficult to discern, exactly which range of instruments is playing what, at what point in time….
This year as in previous years many many arrangers (to me, that is) are guilty of "over-arranging". Not because yuh know plenty it means yuh have to show plenty. As deceased Clive Bradley always said…less is more…
Here Mr. Prescod again…“Sometimes - arrangers simply change the key. So you have the same basic chord structure - in a new key. You have not re-harmonized... or you go into the jam session - (this is my favorite one), lots of - lots of creative music happening in the jam session, that has nothing to do with the piece that’s being arranged."
I want to suggest that some of us re-listen to some of this year's offerings posted on WST after reading this interview especially all those who know "dey tief"….The way I see it…and this is mainly directed to Steelband Officials and arrangers…if you are entering a competition, especially one before a panel of judges, be prepared to accept any result….As the my alma mata's moto reads …. Certant Omnes Sed Non Omnibus Palma (All strive, but the prize is not for all)
For more than three decades I've been saying that Music and Food are Identical Twins as it all depends on the Specific Taste of the Taster (Judge/Adjudicator). Because some prefer lots of Salt, Pepper of other ingredient, doesn't make mine bad without them.". Not very long ago, one band chose to use a bit of "Swing" in their offering, and they were given the Top Slot. There's no way the Rhythm could have been remained consistent in that regard. I'm yet to see someone dance the Swing on the road in order that they display a Spirit of Carnival.
Secondly, it is the gravest of Injustice to players who sacrifice some four to six weeks working in Panyards some four to six hours nightly, for bands to be judged on their performances coming through the Public Address System, when even the "Sound Engineers" are yet to learn and appreciate the true sound of the various ranges of instruments. Their microphones aren't always positioned to bring the best out of the bands' music. I have heard many a band where some of the sweetest music comes out from the middles, however, it's often completely lost through the P.A. System.
Thirdly, history will show that some of our most respected Musicologists whom have ever arranged a piece of music for Panorama, NONE has ever achieved success and captured the title. With the utmost respect for their knowledge and ability, I've often said that Steelband Music is probably too far advanced for these "Judges" to understand and appreciate. STEELBAND MUSIC HAS NOW BECOME UNIVERSAL, AND I SAY, BRING "PAN" PEOPLE TO JUDGE PAN!!!!!
I DO HOPE I'VE NOT OFFENDED ANYONE!!!!!!
Look Chubble Now! :)
All kicks aside, I understand the sentiment. But...another perspective.
Is like saying let Arsene Wenger or Mourinho go out dey and kick a ball nah and see how they do playing in the EPL.
Because you might be a great player doesn't necessarily make you a great coach. And vice versa.
I would think the same applies for judging Panorama.
Now....does it help if you've arranged for Panorama and also a judge? For sure....but not sure if it's essential.
I second you comments Foster
GIVE ALL THE JUDGES A BAND TO ARRANGE FOR AND LETS HERE WHAT IS THERE TAKE ON ARRANGING A PANORAMA SONG
The interview nevertheless, is excellent, and I am wondering, based on the wealth of information provided by Mr Prescod, whether we should be concentrating instead on pan development (the instrument); product development (the music, with strict emphasis on quality) and exposition (the shows,with good production managers and marketing). It is being suggested that we have gone past the pan competition.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next