An introspective and historical perspective
By Collins Jackman
Global - In response to a comment made by a guest at this website about tempo, saying that the trend of today sanctions steelbands to play at a fast tempo, I think that playing a piece of music at a fast pace does an injustice to it. I think the aim of all bands should be to perform their arrangements at a tempo that allows them to be heard with clarity and permits the players to be comfortable executing them with precision. Determining the right tempo depends on the nature of arrangement and the level of musicianship of the players.
If, however, bands are able to perform at racing speed and still maintain clarity, then that is fine. But the objective should always be to play so that the nuances of the music can be heard and understood. Remember, panorama is a musical competition. The jolly nature of the competition should not obscure that fact.
Replies
In my view, most times the tune of choice dictates the speed of a band’s performance. To the arrangers out there, do you really think you should drag a Kitchener’s composition?
As far as I am aware a performance played at 118, 120 or 126 can sound jumbled if the band is not “tight”; when aptly “tight” though, all nuances are heard even when it’s a mere blip on the radar, for example Renegades’ Rant and Rave in 1991.
Volume, like speed is essential, which for me is more troubling. During this year’s Panorama, all bands were so loud they came across as being aggressive, all because of little or no knowledge of what type of microphones to use. Microphones are not one-fits-all gadgets – the mics used for tenors cannot be the same type of mics used for four-pans!
Hence, I agree with Lilian’s view “It is also distorted by the Savannah sound systems, but the visuals of the stage performances are another dimension to be enjoyed”; the first band experiences this the most and many times the second performance as well. On the question of the visuals, that’s another matter for since there are no marks given for that the psychological effect is indeed real.
Almost all Panorama compositions feel better when they are played at a slower tempo from the final stage presentation.
so why the speed?
Well probably somewhere in the interpretation of the rules, performance points are given for sheer speed and accomplishment. It's a way of seeing whether the players have what it takes.
If speed is removed from the equation you can be sure that arrangers will drop their tempo.
When you give an arranger a specific time length for his arrangement they tend to try to cram everything they can think about into the 8 mins or so allotted. If there was a relaxation of the rules on time so that if the arrangement went over by a few seconds or even a minute there would be no penalty, the speed will come down.
Edit! Edit! Edit! Then use the take outs for new arrangements.
Wayne: I always read your posts with interest. And I have to say that YOU should brave the storm and personally organize some kind of PROGRESS ACTION to move PAN forward. I could sense that you have some really good administrative skills and that is the area in which PAN is grossly lacking down in T&T.
The best time to hear a Panorama tune is the last play on the Drag before the band goes on stage. Much of the beauty and logic of the music is lost in the fast paced Stage performance . It is also distorted by the Savannah sound systems, but the visuals of the stage performances are another dimension to be enjoyed
(Just so you all don't accuse me of cheapness: I always buy my Grand Stand ticket and move between the stands and the drag, have limes in both.)
Playing fast or slow has nothing to do with a winning panorama arrangement. What we are seeing today is a lack of creativity with present day arrangers, arranging a panorama tune. Not one of the top arrangers today developed their own style, hence the reason why the music always seem to be copied from past top arrangers. Andre White as a young arranger seem to be the exception today.
"During the colonial period of Trinidad, pan music or the musical expression of those who were a part of it, was an articulation of their opposition to the political, social and economic oppression to which they were subjected."
That is a LONG STRETCH!!!
I think most arrangers choose a quick tempo to create drama with the audience to. impress the judges, it takes a special kind of arranger to do what Bradley did with High Mas, he took a group of young players, put down his music and presented it to the judges, he even ended the tune with AMEN, the only time in the history of panorama. Ray Holman and Andy Narell are also arrangers that choose a slower tempo, I believe the tempo of most bands today are too fast.
Bradley's high Mas was an attempt to slow down Panorama's speed. Despers A Different Me was also meant to CHIP to on Carnival days Panorama almost kill pan We are coming back into the Limelight, Check out Invaders Jouvert on Republic Day. Shutdown Panorama Take $2 million dollars prize money, equally divide it among Steel bands. If All Stars could win Band of the year Imagine what else could happen