As a Trini it saddens my heart to see what technology is doing to our musicians. At one time we prided our selves with the amount of musicians we produce for a small country, now there is not much for much for a musician to do. Both the Brass Band and Steelband are on life support, at one time steelbands ruled the road, brass bands came with amplified music and push steelband to the side, then the came the DJ and kill everybody. The steelband still have panorama but there is not much for the brass band, one man is sitting in a room with his computer and producing a whole song by himself, is this a good thing or are we shooting ourselves in the foot? I taught technology was supposed to enhance what we have?
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Folks, you know when we listen to a record or cd played by a DJ, we here what was put on tracts in the recording studio. There is no added arrangement or any impromptu piece from any musician performing on that record or cd. When we here a Brass band however, we could here different assortments of arrangements, a horn man putting in his or her own piece to give the tune an added sweetness. That is what music in carnival is all about, We still have it with the pan but a Brass band whether in a fete or monday and tuesday? Mmm..Mmm..Mmm
The great Lord Shorty saw this coming. When DJ's were first introduced on the road for Kiddies carnival, Shorty warned that this would hurt us in the future. Some of us laughed at his remark. Others said that he was living in the past. Shorty lived just long enough to see his vision materialise. DJs rule the road with their remixes and techno music. For those of us who remember what it was like moving to the pulsating beat of a brass band, are now left to mourn this loss. I dare to ask the question; Can we bring back the brass band? If so, how do we do it?
Gordon, you've asked a good question and is one we as Trinis have to keep asking about all aspects of carnival because it looks like there is a virus killing everything about it. Fetes died, Steelbands died, Brass died, Mas died not all change is good change.
Gordon, we need to have prizes with enough money to tempt them back. Best steelband on the road. Best band over 1,000 with Brass/steel. Best brass band on the road. Band of the year must have live music.
Alphonso, Your suggestion is a great one. With everything these days needing an incentive to produce, I could see your idea working. With the kind of prize money being given out for the various competitions, I think it is highly probable that we could bring back the sweet sound of Brass. I remember Walter's School of Music from south. That school produced many a great musician. Do you know if they are still in excistence?
I don't believe that technology is the reason. The carnival band leaders don't want to have to deal with the musicians. And the local leaders are not showing any leadership qualities by encouraging the musicians. i.e. band of the year must have live music.
Randi,
Did you attend Tranquility?
Perhaps Mr. Manning realized this when he decided to start up Divine Echoes. Music is feeling. A lot of times that feeling comes from the crowd response. A drum machine, could never respond to the feeling of the crowd like a live drummer could.
A friend of mines asked me how many fetes I attended when I was in Trinidad for carnival. I told him that I went to one, and watched two more on TV.
The truth is, we do not even have fetes any more. They are concerts, where everybody stand up, face the stage, and wait for instructions.
Well said Z, I went to one fete and left after an hour, it certainly looks like everything about carnival going to the cleaners.
The acute lack of qualified music teachers combined with outside influences some good some bad and all wrapped up in modern thinking that you too no matter how tonally challenged you may be can join in. This is what has brought about the downfall of not only the brass bands of the 50s 60s and 70s but the death of steelbands. Although it could be argued the latter has kept going due to expat Trinbagonians
No youngsters are being taught music in an appreciative way which leads to raising an interest then feeding the hunger.
Eventually they want to express themselves. Your phrase " then came the DJ and kill everybody" says it all. The DJ does not compose music or plays an instrument, he merely plays someone else's work. He relies on volume to put his point across.
My old headmistress Miss McShine used to say empty vessels make the most noise.
Randi Curvan
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