I just read the “Results re: Various steelpan competitions organized by Pan Trinbago” posted on WST on 2/20/15. These were the results of the pan competitions held on Carnival Monday.
I immediately noticed that there were only two categories: conventional bands and single pan bands. As a result, among the conventional steelbands in the J‘Ouvert Morning Bomb competition, Harvard Harps Placed 3rd beating large bands such as Invaders and Starlift and, in the Groovy Soca competition, Sound Specialist placed first, Desperadoes second and Renegades fourth.
I believe this is essentially what Ephraim Serrette was referring to, in terms of the relative quality of music produced by bands of different sizes. He made this point several times during his various panorama commentaries on Talk Radio 91.1.
As I recall, there was only one category during when I played in Panorama in the mid-1960s thru the mid ‘70s. Surely there were reasons why the structure was changed to small, medium and large conventional bands. Maybe it is time to revisit those discussions in light of issues such as “shortage of players,” “too many steelbands” and other perceived challenges coming out of this year’s Panorama.
One this is clear to me: Panorama needs a makeover. This should be a major item on the agenda of the (hopefully new) leadership of Pantrinbago now that the legal maneuvering debacle, which prevented the elections scheduled for 2012, is over.
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It is to be noted that for the International Panorama that is being staged in Trinidad in a few months time, there is one category and the limit is between forty (40) and sixty (60) players per band.
Very interesting , Kwame.
Does that suggest that it will be more like a calypso music festival and less like panorama as we know it ?
More than likely "Andy Narell" Band from France might Participate?
Not only Panorama, everything about Carnival needs to be looked at SOON.
True talk. Cecil.