ORIGINS

  The Tinpan is a musical instrument originally made from discarded tin-coated steel food cans, of volume of about 16oz (454 gms) or larger. The original model of the prototype steelpan may in fact have been a tinpan, but the certainty of this fact, is at the moment lost to history. What has been noted however, is that a prototype steelpan has been found, which was made from a cut-down 'caustic soda' steel drum, of size about 10 to 14 gallons (0.045.5 to 0.063.6 m²), onto the 'top' of which had been indented, 4 'tuned' musical notes. The point being made here, is that although the tinpan and the steelpan are 'similar' types of musical instruments, using a vibrating metal surface to produce a musical note; they should be classed as two different types of individual musical instruments.

  We now rephrase the above facts in a different way, to arrive at an understanding of the relationship between the tinpan and the steelpan. It's the 'chicken and egg argument'; which instrument arose first, the tinpan or the steelpan? Whereas it is appealing to consider that the tinpan is the precursor to the steelpan, there is sufficient anecdotal historic evidence to suggest otherwise, and it was the steelpan that is in fact the precursor to the tinpan.

  The relationship is strengthened by the observation that after the appearance of the limited note steelpan, the evolutionary trend was to develop a single instrument with more notes, using larger drums or pans. When the 'tuners' arrived at the largest, and most economically accessible steel drum available, the ubiquitous ~ 45 gallon (0.2 m²) industrial steel drum, expansion of the instrument size essentially halted. It was also about the upper limit in size for an instrument to be carried, and had sufficient surface area onto which a useful range on musical notes could be designed. And further, in that initial short pioneering era, the early steelbands required only a 'tenor' steelpan, and that ubiquitous ~ 45 gallon steel drum would ideally do that job. The desire to get 'more notes' on the pan was accomplished by 'sinking' the sheet metal of the skin 'deeper' into the drum, thus increasing the usable surface area. Experiments with adjusting physical 'note' shape and size, would self-conspire to set the upper limit of usable notes on a 'Trinidad tenor' pan. Anthony Williams 'spider pan' was such an experiment; and his eventual '4ths' and '5ths' pan marked the end of the evolutionary line for the standard 45 gallon 'Trinidad tenor' steel drum instrument. Any larger, over-sized drums, would be future, more costly, technological hybrids; with specifications far outside of the requirements of that early pioneering era.

  As an aside, returning to that early pioneering era; using the ubiquitous ~ 45 gallon steel drum as stock; the requirement of finding new instrument 'voices' with musical notes lower than 'tenor', which were progresses physically larger on the steel, drove pan evolution in the direction of multi-drum instruments. More drums were needed to cover a larger 'range' of notes; with the largest collection of drums comprising the 'bass' voice instruments.

  In none of this early steelpan and steelband evolution do we see any 'tinpans' appearing in the mix.

  APPEARANCE AND NEED

  The first 'best guess' appearance of the 'tinpans' is placed somewhere between the late 1950's, and most definitely to have evolved shortly after Panorama in 1963. We must make note of one further odd thing; during that period the public of TT would 'hear pan' from only two radio sources; Radio Trinidad and Radio Guardian. Television only arrived at TT Independence, for it's first broadcast on 31st August 1962 for the parliamentary event of change-over in rule and flag raising, transmitted by TTT (Trinidad and Tobago Television); the only available TV channel for a couple of decades. It was through this media that the public first became aware of tinpan. Via a program called 'Uncle Bobb and Auntie Kay' (Radio or TV? researching as this impacts on the dating; but eventually also on TV) , within a segment named 'Scouting For Talent', there would appear the odd young talented musician soloing on a 'tinpan' array.

  It should be also realised that this period marks the time when the 'steelband' began to rise in popularity, and culturally resonate, with the general public; and within the ranks of its practicing adherents in particular, was becoming a 'fad' or 'brand' (as we could call it today) of upward 'social' attainment. This 'brand' identity would surprisingly maintain itself all the way to the turn of the millennium, when outside cultural influences and distracting imported electronic technologies together, brought in the infection of the predicted 'Pan in Danger' virus that is presently decimating the socio-cultural 'brand' steelband. But it was in that early time when the 'brand' was establishing itself, that the youth of the ranks of its practicing adherents wanted to get involved. It was this youth, with that need, that invented the tinpan. It was from this close community of youth, who could not themselves afford a steelpan, who would group together to form the tinpan bands. We need also realise the difficulty they would face, in those early days, in obtaining a real steelpan. It was not necessarily the cost of the steelpan that was to be the hurdle, although to be sure it was comparably high; it was their scarcity. Each steelpan that was made was 'precious' because of the scarcity of drums and 'tuners', and were all destined to feed the hungry need of the growing number of 'organised' steelbands.

  THE TINPAN PAN

  Noted before, the tinpan is a mimic of the steelpan. But a single tinpan does not an instrument make, or not quite. What we need further appreciate, is that it is the physic of sound that determines the physical 'size' of a 'pan' note in the perceived audio spectrum. In that medium 'soprano' and 'tenor' range of usable tinpan 'notes', it just so happens that some tin-sizes can support up to 4 notes on the top of the tin. What is needed is a collection of tinpans, that can make up a range of usable notes, preferably but not immediately necessarily in chromatic order, to make up what can be called a 'tinpan pan'. What is also needed, to accommodate notes of a lower pitch, which are proportionately larger, is an assortment of tins of various sizes; some sufficiently large to accommodate the larger lower pitched notes.

  Here follows a relevant note on providence. TT were fortunate islands at that period of their post war (WWII) history, particularly the island of Trinidad. Trinidad was still a major sugar producer in the Caribbean, had a viable and operating citrus industry and her established oil industry had just about peaked at being the Americas regions 5th largest oil producer. Fortunate in trickle-down, the under privileged were not in poverty, and there was a growing middle class. The WHO had advised that powdered milk was good for the health of developing economies, although the manufacturers would over-spin the benefits; the TT economy and food infrastructure was however in good enough shape to import these items, and much else, in quantity. All in all, this meant that TT had an incredibly wide range of available tin cans, with which to make tinpans, to choose from.

  Apart from the ready availability of general sized tins; the tins of choice for the tinpan makers reduced to three verities. From the citrus growers, the larger sized grapefruit tins, over the smaller orange juice tins, were preferred. From the oil industry, the motor oil tins of 'quarts' and 'half gallons', supplied in those days by ESSO and Shell, and later Texaco, were the norm. From the groceries came the powdered milk tins, of the local market leaders Klim and Fernleaf, making up the last set.

  Of the youth of that era who experimented with making 'tinpan pans'; it is noted from the South of Trinidad that the accomplished pan tuner Lloyd Gay and winning Panorama arranger Steive Achaiba, started their careers by making 'tinpan pans'. A few, names unrecorded at this time, had a gift and a talent, would practice enough to be able to take their wire basket or boxful of tinpans to play at a friends party, a local event or to appear briefly in the limelight at a 'Scouting for Talent'.

  THE TINPAN BANDS

  Tinpan bands are comparatively rare because the 'youth' that comprised them had to qualify a few loose socio-economic parameters. They were closely related, either in direct blood relation or in close proximity, to the people who supported or played in the steelbands; the people that history tells us were from a stressed socio-economic background; this would make the group enthusiastic about pan. Further, there had to be a close community from which their numbers could easily be drawn, otherwise it would all fall apart; this would indicate high density population areas. In fact all this points to specific communities of excess population; government housing schemes and the 'squats', the latter housing not only the migrated local economic opportunists, but also some illegal immigrant populations.

  So in summary; tinpan bands are rare, usually formed by enthusiastic youth from a close community, who catch the 'fad' to form a band, make their instruments themselves, practice and perform together for a season or two, and then disband; as they move on to the other necessities of life.

  Of the 4 Tinpan Bands that we are fortunate to be able list; each tells a little snippet of the tinpan story:

  The Klim Fern Gettonetts of Mc Sween Street, and New Jammer(s) of Roy Joseph Street, are both from the Roy Joseph Scheme, San Fernando. They arose in 1972 to 1973; and even managed to have a Tinpan 'Panorama shootout' between themselves, in the Roy Joseph Scheme, for carnival 1973.

  The Klim Kids of of Taporite Street, Morvant; (undated)  turn out to have been a Raymond family ensemble.

  The XY Cellotones Juice Tinpan Band (unknown location, undated; researching) ; indicates that the 'XY' in the name refers to 'style' of 'notes' grooved into the top of their tinpans; having a mix of 'X' (4 notes) or 'Y' (3 notes) in design.

tobagojo - 10 October 2015

XY Cellotones Juice Tinpan Band - by Adrian Kong - Submitted 20150930
Islands Research is greatful to Adrian Kong for his assistance to supply this imag;
We also acknowledge the help of Dr Jeannine Remy, DCFA, UWI.

List of members of XY Cellotones Juice Tinpan Band as seen in the photo from right to left: Julien Cedeno (9 bass tinpan; only back seen at extreme right of the picture) Bonifacio Kong (tenor tinpan) Finbar Kong (guitar tinpan / Tuner) Unidentified (only a view of his head is seen in photo) Dan Faria (drumkit) Anthony Walker (scratcher) Neal Martinez (congas) Keith Rampersad (tenor tinpan) Wendell Faria (double seconds tinpan; see only his back) Osric Faria (cow bell) Mitch Warner (tambourine / Arranger) Don Tores (tenor tinpan)

Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee  Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee  Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee  Tick-e-der  tick-e-dee Tnag - Tnag - Tnag - Tnag - Tnag - Tnag - Tnag - Tnag! ...

  Being an Iron man is a position of great responsibility within a steelband. A good Iron man holds tremendous respect from all. The question of whether to be or not to be an Iron man never really arises. Either you have failed, or you’re an Iron man.
  The Iron holds the timing and spins the engine. Without detraction to the desired efforts of the team who make up the rest of the “engine room”, Iron men are something special. In its own right; their rhythm is a counter-weaving art-form of sound. The height of the art-form is 'cutting'. Within a group of ironmen is one 'cutter'. The 'cutter' brings the 'off'; that beat in the gap of the phrase, that taps in 'time' but is 'off' a quarter, a half, a sixteenth. It rises in volume at the 'right' time, and fades to disappearance, to return again to emphasize 'that part' of the tune. An Iron man requires an innate dexterity; an affection for steel that is close to an affliction; a constitution that does not recognise boredom or thresholds of pain; an unerring sense of timing; a stamina that is almost inhuman. Tradition has it that once a band is moving "on the road", the Iron never stops!

  To a bystander at carnival “When yuh hear de iron, yuh does know a’ steelband commin’!”

The Iron strikers of Republic Bank Exodus (Large) with shoe-lace safty ties; in case you drop one.
Panorama Semi-Finals, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 1st Feb 2015 by John Schmidt

(Left) Lady iron-man - St Joseph Convent (St Joseph), Lil Gems - Junior TT Panorama 2015, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 8th Feb 2015 (Right) Iron section, with hand-held 'cutter', of Arima Angel Harps (M). M + L Panorama Semi-Finals, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 1st Feb 2015 by John Schmidt

A RUSTY 'IRON'  An example of a badly kept, rusty, silver painted, 'iron'.  There is nothing shameful about owning a silver painted 'iron'; most 'irons' in TT, and some very 'sweet' ones at that, are of this variety. 'Sweet' being the local TT vernacular reserved for some few 'irons' of a particularly pleasing ringing tone, or timbered voice; a rare and particularly prized instrument. But 'irons'; usually made from general, non-stainless, steels; need care. Their surfaces should be regularly cleaned after use, and they should be stored in a dry place. Many 'iron-men' carry their cherished instruments around in custom made canvas/denim bags.  The dull brown colour of a rusty 'iron' is shown in this example. It is an affront and a disgrace. It is that sadly typical disrespect shown to a 'low-life' instrument; one stored in the back of the shed, with no care, and then to be brought out in a 'hurry', to make up the 'side'. The source will however remain un-named; but please, please, care for your lovely 'irons'; like the Sound Specialists of Laventille 'iron' shown below. The Chromed Iron of the Sound Specialists of Laventille The fashionably 'chromed' iron of the Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille is a good example and tells an unusual story, in process metallurgy; about which the chromed steelpan owners, mainly the steelbands themselves, are largely unaware. The 'iron' of Sound Specialists shows an aged, heavily used, but actually well cared for 'chromed iron'. Its surface is clean, and the side of the face towards us, and the face most struck by the steel strikers, shows the dull brown colour of sweat oxidised cleaned iron, rather than the light brown tone of rust. The 'gold' has a light sheen and the chrome is mirror bright. The story is in the 'gold' and the absence of the 'chrome' from the face of this once completely 'chromed' instrument. Starting with the element chromium, it has some amiable and useful properties in being, although slightly protectively oxidised, a metal that can be brought to a silvery sheen with a light polishing and will hold the sheen, and not tarnish easily. Chromium has a larger atom than the element iron, and when mixed with it, in around an 11% to about 30% mix of chromium, and with some other things, turns iron into an incredible range of 'stainless steels'; the tough and strong 'rust proof' metal found in common cutlery and favoured as the material out of which the iron 'strikers' are made. Chromium's other useful but difficult property is that it is hard and extremely brittle; the property that makes it a durable, yet delicate, coating material; the thicker, the more durable. The chromium atom is too large to easily stick to iron. To get over this, an intermediate coating of an element with an atom smaller than chrome, yet larger than iron, is needed as an interface. This is that material with the 'gold' colour; nickel. Nickel, like chromium, does not tarnish easily; but unlike chromium, is as about as soft as iron and wares easily. Chromed iron of Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille M + L Panorama Semi-Finals, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT 1st Feb 2015 - by John Schmidt In the process of electroplating a 'chromed' item; like a steelpan or an 'iron'; the iron item is first cleaned, then electro-coated with nickel; cleaned again; and then electro-coated with chromium; then washed and polished. Technical details of the processes of cleaning, rate of electroplating, purity of solvents and thickness of coatings, in the main; makes the final product a 'reasonable' or 'very well' chromed item. Any 'short cuts' applied here, can induce early cracking and 'peeling' of the chrome coating. If for example, an item is chromed without the intermediate layer of nickel; after a time, if a crack has formed, from a dent or a minute corrosive dust-spot; the chrome will easily peel away. The process of 'chroming' is an expensive business; in that the materials nickel and chromium are high cost elements; the area covered and thickness of coat, driving the cost; and the more attention paid to the intermediate cleaning processes; adding further to the cost. Somewhere between a third and half the cost of a chromed 'steelpan' is in the chroming; the larger the pans, the grater the cost. For the luxury of a chromed bass-set; about three-quarters of the cost will be chroming related. There are two main process plants in Trinidad and Tobago that provide the chroming services for most of the steelbands of these islands. Remaining nameless here and hopefully without bias; they provide the choice of affordable or expensive chroming; depending on the depth of the demanding pocket. Returning now to the 'chromed' iron of the Sound Specialists of Laventille; one may be tempted to claim that this was an 'affordable' chrome job; however one must be a little careful here. Chromed steelpans 'age' with micro-cracks from the vibrations of play, knocks of tuning, temperature variations and promoted by dust particles if not properly cleaned; and can 'peel' but survive under re-chroming; and are best kept in containers or separate cases. On the other hand, one of the 'worst' things that can happen to a chromed item, because of the brittleness of chromium, is to shock it. The face of an iron sees the 'worst' of this type of abuse; from the high impact forces of the strike itself and from the high frequency of the vibrational harmonics induced; cracking the chrome. This in turn, promoting the chromium to peel off, no matter how well it is seated; nickel or no-nickel. So the only reasonable answer here, which may have its own surprises; is to ask the owner of the Sound Specialists of Laventille 'iron'; where the job was done.

Point Fortin Iron Giants, called a 'Rhythm Section' at J'Ourvet 2011 7th March, Sutton Street, San Fernando, Trinidad, TT - tobagojo

FINDING THE ROOTS

  When the Old Time steelbands (who were not Old Time then!) started up in the late 1930’s early 1940’s; the names of the bands, and recognising the bands by their name, was straightforward.
Alexander Rag Time Band, Oval Boys, Casablanca as an example.
  All remained relatively simple until fashion, bad communications, geography and economics intervened. The fashion and bad communications go hand in hand with names like United and Angel Harps, and gets worse with geography for All Stars. And don’t talk to me about Pan Groove!
  All the above names are the root names for the bands.

FIXING THE REGIONS

  The matter is cleared up with a regional forename on the root; so you get
Point Fortin United and
St James United
  It gets muddier with
Angel Harps who went Tropical to be
Tropical Angel Harps, who were first before the
Arima Angel Harps

  But the prime hiatus is with
All Stars who because they were there first; became, as many who can claim they were there first; prefixed with Trinidad, so you get
Trinidad All Stars but are still cherished on their local grounds as
All Stars; as opposed to
Tobago All Stars and
Tunapuna All Stars and
Southern All Stars - who joined with Antillean to become Antillean All Stars - that then had a split to become
Southern All Stars all over again - Oh well.

THE SPONSORS PREFIX

  But when you add the economic necessity of a sponsor; the sponsors name precedes all else. This is a pain when seen over time as the sponsors change; and if it's a tough old band will spawn over the years names like
All Stars, Trinidad All Stars, Catelli All Stars, Catelli Trinidad All Stars, Neil & Massey Trinidad All Stars an now Massey Trinidad All Stars.
  A cultural and sociological happenstance occurred when a progressive external systems cultural moors clashed with the conservative secular evangelism that pervades TT society.
Gay Desperadoes were happy. When they became
Coco Cola Gay Desperadoes, they were more happy. When they became
WITCo Gay Desperadoes they were still happy. That was, until they went on tour to the U.S.A. to meet the world. Deflated by a double-entendre, they returned home to be
WITCo Desperadoes; where they have remained to be happy ever since. The same name-fate befell the
Gay Stars,
Gay Crescendoes,
Gay Hoytonians,
Gay Monarch,
Gay Philadelphians and the
Gay Flamingos, who didn't even have to fly away.

DEFENDERS OF AFFECTION

  The coming of the sponsors in the early 1960’s
(Pan Am North Stars ~ 1963), although of enormous benefit to the steelbands who were chosen, engendered some disquiet among steelband aficionados who defended their affection for their names on the local grounds, and disliked the sponsors required prefix.
  Over time some bands developed such strong and amicable quid pro quo ties with their sponsors; that both appear with equal strength and respect, to appear almost inseparable, and are accepted as such. Examples of these are WITCO Desperadoes, AmoCo Renegades and Fernandez Vat 19 Fonclaire.
  That's all very cosy until your sponsor decides that Trinidad oil is a dodgy business, and vacates the building. You then get superlatively lucky with the arrival of an even bigger enterprise; with green, social and cultural integration written all over their Mission Statement; they were more happy to find you than you could have ever imagined; and you become
bpTT Renegades. Fulfilling a panmans dream of all that rum, you would never have expected it all to evaporate all of a sudden; which it did, but you knew is was a gamble anyway and became
NLCB Fonclaire.
  The aficionados proved their point however when, for example, much to the delight of the sponsors, Catelli All Stars, Solo Harmonites and Carib Tokyo subsumed the tradition and nearly lost their identity by becoming known as Catelli, Solo and Carib respectively.
  But alas to Cavaliers; they got bogged down, and sank without trace, under that cool dark Irish froth of Guinness.
  The debate continues.

HOW THE MAIN LISTS ARE SORTED

  The main lists on these pages always separate the sponsor from the root. Where necessary a regional split may also be made. All the sorting is then applied alphabetically to the resulting root names only.

FINDING THE GROOVE

  OK then, what about Pan Groove?
  Well I gave up, didn’t I. I think it was a good back peddle, and hope to show why. But the Wonders of the Web allow me to change things easily, if necessary; so to that later.

  A sort of the Traditional or Old Time bands gave me five Pan Groove's
D Untouchables, La Creole, LH (La Horquitta), Nuttin' Big, and Scrunters
  and a generically close
Hope Pan Groovers

  For a sort of the Conventional bands I found three Pan Groove's
Humming Bird, Phase II and Redemption.

  There was no regional contention, generics don’t count, and it was Phase II that settled it.
  It’s this affection on the ground for the name that did it.
  I couldn’t have Phase II hanging out with the sponsors; so
Phase II Pan Groove, with all the rest, sits alphabetically dispersed on the right.

  Every panwomans or panmans dream, is for their band to play at the TT National Steelband Panorama Competition and win.

  The Panorama Grand Finals, held each year, usually always on the Saturday prior to Carnival Monday, is the event that all 'pan' lovers never miss. This is the time that 'pan' people, stranded in foreign lands, have a sinking whole-body pang of homesickness. They can't turn on a radio to hear, or a TV to see, what is broadcast only on the local stations; or so it used to be.

  Today, the wonders of the internet, have closed that yearning gap; with Panorama streaming to all four corners of the planet, sadly constantly in military conflict, to raise their day.

Moving off the barbergreen, CAL Invaders prepair to mount the stage for a mid-evening Large Steelband performance.
Invaders placed 8th in this 2015 Semi-Finals and improved to 7th place in the 2015 Large Steelband TT Panorama Grand Finals
The TT Panorama M + L Semi-Finals, The Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 1st Feb 2015 by John Schmidt

PANORAMA INTERNET SKIT 2014 The wizardry of the internet now impacts highly on the stage of Panorama. In TT, a land witlessly embroiled with mediocre and corrupt governance, yet conspicuously abundant in resource for the Caribbean, yet seemingly limitedly so on its own home ground, where some leakage of resources to as yet to be discovered tax havens, occurs along some hidden pipelines, designed to carry diesel no doubt; now sports internet connectivity; the equal to none in the Caribbean; or so they say from outside.   This technological resource allows our National Panaroma to stream to the four corners of the planet, sadly constantly in military conflict, to raise their day, or so one should think. Additionally, interested local FM broadcasters, seeing the way forward, avidly connect to the net to feed the seasons Panorama renditions 'the short hop' to central-station, and then FM it about, and why not? They now stream it to all four corners of the planet, sadly constantly in military conflict, to raise their day.   This would all work splendidly, were in not for the fact that; one-half of the over-spill from corrupt enterprise are happily at home, busy on Hi-Def, hi-fi, why-fi, downloading Bollywood Panorama and re-plays of Hollywood renditions of, sadly constant military conflict, from all four corners of the planet.   Simultaneously; the other-half of the over-spill from corrupt enterprise are happily in and around the North stand, treating Panorama as the noise between intimacies; while they Hi-Def, hi-fi, why-fi, tweets in hash-tags, tex-sin and vex-sin the usual 'Why you eh reach yet'? as they race to out face-book one another with chat and pics of sadly recent conflicts in body-contact.   Meanwhile, the interested local FM broadcasters, short on preparation, are now sweating it out in the middle of the internet traffic-jam, in serious trouble with 'the short hop', and FM-ing out 'Boogsie' missing in action, 'Smooth' like the gaps between sharks teeth, and the last six minutes, twenty two point seven two seven three seconds of a 'Pelham' 'where is the music?' rendition; now made useless for a 'you-tube' up-load to the general public; to make the point. tobagojo - 2014

  PAN-O-RAMA (As of the original 1963 spell-logo) is an unusual, home grown, dual-component TT musical contest. Its sound is rendered by the peculiar pulsing and purring of the melodic metallic notes of vibrating steel of the steelpans, a sound to which the home TT populace have grown fondly accustomed, but which can at times overwhelm the audio sensitivity of an unwary visitor; until such time that they audio-learn to get the hang of it. The music is a 'symphony' about the 'spirit' of the rainbows of colour, of the dynamics in body movement, all intoxicated by the utterances of the songs of the people. The music is an interpretation of the lust of the populous as they unabashedly mix together to celebrate on the streets, their special own home grown festival, TT Carnival. The dual-component is a special traditional alliance-bond of trust between the 'highly revered wizardry' of the musical arranger and her/his contingent of mostly non-musician 'players'. Players that comprise the whole of the 'steelband' itself. The ambitions of the 'music maker' must be totally explored by the honed skills and engagement of the 'players' that comprise the ready 'steelband'; their quest for glory, depends on this. The dual-component continues into the contest; in that; can the ingenuity of the music composed by the 'arranger', invested with so much care by arduous practice into the magic hands and soul of the players that comprise the 'steelband'; be sufficiently eloquent in surprise of content on one hand; and can each note be performed with such fine exquisite technical precision on the other hand; so that by this composite effort, the opposition is blown wayward by this undoubtedly masterful musical performance. TT Panorama is an ultimate cultural expression; a TT musical magical mystery tour de force.

  With the recent advent of a 2004 Panorama format change for the Conventional Steelband category to now include Small, Medium and Large sized steelbands, the traditions have changed somewhat for the placement of the much anticipated Finals. The Panorama Finals for the Single Pan Steelbands and the Small conventional steelbands being held together on the Thursday evening (before the grand finals) at Skinner Park, San Fernando; and the Panorama Grand Finals of the Medium and Large conventional steelbands, on the traditional Saturday evening, carnival weekend, at the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, Port of Spain in Trinidad.

  The Panorama Steelband Competition, initiated in 1963; was not the first steelband competition to be organised, nor is it the only steelband competition held in these islands, but it became and is, the Premiere steelband event of the year. As Trinidad gained Independence on August 31st 1962, the Nations first Prime Minister, the inimitable Dr 'Doc' Eric Williams who was steadfastly and conspicuously fond of cultural events and their promotion, (He was also steadfastly and conspicuously fond of Broadway Extra cigarettes that finally keeled him over), was probably instrumental, together with his government, in sponsoring a National Steelband Competition to mobilise and inspire a musical resource of such obvious abundance and talent but was stuck to the carnival "road", with no other purpose on which to focus.

  The organisation of this event fell to the hands of George Goddard, the President General as he was then called, of the TT Steelband Association. Goddard recalled that either in late December 1962, or in early January 1963, at a meeting to organise particulars of the proposed 1963 steelband carnival event, that the event got its name. His meeting was with the CEO Ronald Williams, the chairman of the Carnival Development Committee (CDC), at his premises of L.J. Williams & Co. Ltd., Chacon Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Goddard suggested that the steelbands first prize be raised to TT$1000.00, in line with the current Calypso King's prize; and Ronald Williams proposed the name 'Steelband Panorama', to which Goddard agreed. ( Goddard G., Forty Years in the Steelbands, 1939-1979; Pg111-112 )

  So as a matter of no little National prestige, Pan-O-Rama came to fruition in the year following a newly Independent and celebrating nation. Panorama flourished and remains. Its impetus and success has no doubt had incalculable beneficial effects for the steelbands, their promotion and for the world-wide recognition of this TT art-form.

  We pause here for a historical note that cautions us with respect to the calculation applied for the number of years that have passed since the start of Panorama in 1963; and to the number of Panoramas that have actually occurred within that period. In 1979 there was NO Panorama (actually only a Northern preliminary); so post-1979, there is always 1 less Panorama, than the count of the number of years that have past.

Historical Note: EARLY PANORAMA   Post TT Independence of 1962; the PANORAMA of today was derived from three independent National steelband competitions.   In 1963, billed as the Best Road March Steelband Competition was an event held in the North on the 17th February, at Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain. This event would very soon later ascend to become the main TT National Steelband PAN-O-RAMA competition.   In the South, on the 18th of February 1963, a Southern Steelband Competition was held at the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando. Using these same South rules, to be followed some days later in Tobago, a Steelband Competition was held at Shaw Park, Scarborough.   These competitions would evolve under the regulation of the TT Steelband Association, which later became Pan Trinbago, to be called respectively the North, South & Central and Tobago Regional zone competitions; with the later formation of the Eastern Region in 1976.   Top competitor steelbands from these Regions would then qualify to enter the TT National Steelband PAN-O-RAMA, the finals of which became the 'Mecca' of pan, at The Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Notes from: Hatters short BIO 2014; [Section] Year entered first Panorama

  Panorama involves virtually all the steelbands in Trinidad and Tobago. Conventional and The Single Pan Bands (SPB's) (Traditional) steelband categories are represented. 1998 saw the introduction of the Junior Panorama (conventional) category, which has now grown into a highly anticipated and musically surprising event. It is placed in the week before the Grand Finals at the Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad. It includes the Junior steelbands of the traditional conventional steelbands, the pupil steelbands of established Pan Learning Institutions together with student steelbands from the National Schools of TT. Junior Panorama has grown to highlight some of the young and upcoming musical players and arrangers, many of surprising talent. It would be remiss to label them as only steelpan players and arrangers at this time, for many may visit different halls of music in the future.

  The logistics of moving around large collections of 'oil' drums due to band size and because of the number of the bands competing, the National Steelband Panorama competition begins with rounds of Preliminaries, as they are called, at venues related to the bands physical location. The Preliminaries are held in four geographic Competition Zones, out of which 'qualifiers' emerge to further compete. The physical location of the steelbands home ground will determine which Competition Zone it is to belong. The competition then moves to Semi-Finals in all categories; out of which the Finalists emerge. Following the emergence of the new 2004 Panorama Format, and the attrition in size to the Large Conventional Category; economics decided that the Large Bands move directly to the Semi-Finals, without a Preliminary. The Large Bands instead face a pseudo-Preliminary called a 'Preparedness test' carried out by officials and adjudicators of Pan Trinbago, at the steelbands respective panyard. Following which, an adjudicators un-numerated score sheet, marked only with suggestions and critical musical comments, will later be issued to the band. This remains in parallel with the established tradition of supplying feedback as 'marked' score sheets, to ALL the steelbands, following their Preliminary, and their Semi-Final, performances.

tobagojo - update August 2016

The new 2004 Panorama format

  A change arose to Panorama when Pan Trinbago introduced the new 2004 Panorama format.

  The change affected the Conventional steelbands only, by dividing the competition stable of some 65 steelbands, into 3 new categories. Small, Medium and Large. Ostensibly it brought a long overdue equity in distribution of prize resources and better matched the band sizes in competition. As inevitable, some disagreed with the change, but their argument was weak, and as expected from a culture under stress and from the old-school who resisted any change, was nothing more than the mantra ‘Oh, it masshin' up de culture!’.

  The three main things this new 2004 Panorama format change actually brought about were to do with; first, the amount of prize money attached to Panorama, which increased; second, the number of bands that would actually appear in a finals, which increased; and thirdly, specifying the size, in members, of each of the three new conventional steelband Categories.

  The size in membership of the bands entering the seasonal TT National Steelband Panorama competition, Conventional Category, is stipulated as follows. Small [35 to 55*]; Medium [60 to 90*] and Large [95 to 120*]. For completeness of data (here); The Single Pan Steelbands (SPB's) Category (i.e. Traditional steelbands) size range is [25 to 45*]. The * just indicates that the maximum includes the count of ALL instrument players; not just pan-players alone.

  For the first new 2004 Panorama format, the registered stable of 65 steelbands elected themselves to the following category groupings; 25 Small, 22 Medium and 18 Large. Ten years after, in 2014, the numbers had changed to; a total of 90 performing steelbands; 49 Small, 26 Medium and 15 Large; with an additional 8 registered, but no-show steelbands; 2 Medium and 6 Small. The 38% increase in the number of performing bands, shows a 17% (-3) decrease in the Large category, a 18% (+4) increase in the Medium and a near doubling in the numbers of small bands, with an increase of 96% (+24).

  With respect to the number of finals performing steelbands; traditionally, pre 2004, the number of finalists would be set somewhere between 12 and 14. With some rather regular double or triple ties in 12th position; the figure could rise to 15 or 16 at times. The new 2004 Panorama format rules would first stipulate that 8 band from each category would appear in the finals. The actual finals show would now host the Medium and Large categories together, in that order, that would then show 16 finalists; much in line to what had been experienced before the change. The larger change came where the SPB's and the Small show would now be combined, and in that order; to present a Panorama show with 16 SPB finalists; and 8 Small conventional finalists. In this format, it was only the addition of the Small conventional category that added 8 more Panorama finalists than before.

  With respect to an increase in the Panorama prizes; the new 8 Medium steelbands are granted higher premiums than the lower 8 of the Large band category that they would replace; thus increasing the cost. However, being smaller in size, their top prize started at a lower level than that for the Large category. The 8 Small steelbands however, were an entirely new addition, and with a starting premium pegged around mid-way between that for the Medium and SPB's. With no real figures to go on at this time, but however with a good understanding of the system; a reasonable ball-park estimate would suggest that the cost of morphing the system, to include 8 Small and 8 Medium categories, all told, would have added about 50% extra cost to the enterprise.

  As to the question of 'Who funds Panorama'? Seen as a major contributing component to the yearly TT seasonal Carnival festivities and an overall revenue attractor to the tourist industry of the islands; Panorama is funded by government bursary to Pan Trinbago, who receive the funds through the grant control body called The Carnival Development Committee (CDC). By 2014, the yearly amount allocated to the Panorama competitions is in the order of TT$ 8 to TT$ 10 million (US$ 1.3 to US$ 1.6 million). Interestingly, Pan Trinbago, in order to finance their own operations, traditionally receive 10% 'tax' on all prize moneys received by the steelbands for the Panorama show. Panorama is only one of many other, some considered contentious and controversial, revenue streams for Pan Trinbago; issues of which may be treated as a different topic, outside this brief.

  Returning now to the Panorama competition itself and the impact of the new 2004 Panorama format change for the Conventional steelbands; a change that would now herald in two new Panorama winners; the respective conventional winners for the Medium; and winners for the Small categories. The new rules stipulated that the last of the Conventional champions, Exodus [2003], had no rights to automatically play in the (Large Conventional) Finals; as had traditionally been the case for previous Finals winners of the recent decades. This meant that the new change-over, started afresh all categories. Technically, Panorama had been re-set to zero. The subtlety here is that, intentionally or no; Pan Trinbago managed to side step the curiously but imminently pending cultural question, in the light of the issue that was now upseting the steelbands status quo, as to 'Who won Panorama 2004'?

  In order not to disenfranchise the legitimacy of lineage of the Small and Medium steelbands to be winners of Panorama, the subtle technical re-set, avoided the issue. The Large Category steelbands may have, by common perception only, inherited the rights to the legacy of lineage to some 40 Panoramas, but so too, could the Small and Medium bands now claim; even though Exodus, by dint of its 2004 seasons choice in size, having had elected to be in the Large category, were thus unwittingly strengthening the perceived rights to the Large Category.

  All technical argument aside, however many numerical truths not withstanding; the common cultural perception of Trinidad and Tobago is that the Large Conventional steelbands category, carry the grand flag of glory, in all rights, to be the masters of Panorama.

Pitrotrin Siparia Deltones on-stage doing 'Zanda's' arrangement of Trini  at the Large Steelband TT Panorama Grand Finals with the customary group of jubilant supporters, crowded on the left.
Siparia Deltones placed joint-7th in the 2011 Large Steelband TT Panorama Grand Finals.
The Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - Saturday, 5th March 2011 - tobagojo

Panorama Band size

  We summarise here, using some previous information scattered around this page, to focus on some odd issues, related to the Panorama bands sizes.

  We recall that the size in membership of the bands entering the seasonal TT National Steelband Panorama competition, Conventional Category, is stipulated as follows. Small [35 to 55*]; Medium [60 to 90*] and Large [95 to 120*]. And for The Single Pan Steelbands (SPB's) Category the size range is [25 to 45*]. The * just indicates that the maximum includes the count of ALL instrument players; not just pan-players alone.

  When the bands arrange themselves for the Panorama competitions, they attempt to field as many players as they can muster. It makes sense; with a full complement, your halfway to winning already, as the competition can't be bigger than you are! The sizes of the bands thus approaches the upper limits as set for the conventional and SPB steelbands.

  The size of the steelbands at the beginning of Panorama in 1963, was somewhere in the region of 30 to 40 members; more likely on the lower limit. That means they were smaller than both the Small conventional or the Single Pan Steelbands we hear today. As Panorama evolved over the years, their size grew in number. We recall that the largest Panorama steelband ever to perform, was the record set in 1975, when the Maritime Life Hatters hit the Savannah's Grand Stand finals stage, to overhang it with "bass racks", sporting 167 players (Under dispute; cf. Cavaliers). This as was said, precipitated a rule change, that for a time, set the upper limit initially to 100 members (New data 2016, Pan Trinbago SC [provisional]; where the previously indicated number was 140 from an unconfirmed though not yet discredited source), for what we now consider as the Large steelbands. By the early 1990's it had risen to around 120 players; in 1998 fell under protest to 100; and within a few years was back to 120; and then oscillated between 100 to 120 players as they fiddled the numbers between the Preliminaries and the Finals. The figure now stands at a steady maximum of 120 (2016).

tobagojo - update September 2016

Panorama Tune duration

  The length, or duration, of a Panorama Tune today is different from what it 'traditionally' started at in 1963, and like the steelbands themselves, went through a process of evolution to arrive at its present length. As we shall note, some change was due to natural 'musical evolution'; whereas marketing strategies and media recording limitations, brought on changes that would guide the time format set for the present era.

  Where the early Panorama tunes came out of the Neville Jules 'Bomb tune' stable; they were short and sweet, repeat verse and chorus, with some extra inside modulation work to sweeten 'for Panorama'; the tunes were in the order of 3 to 4 minutes long.

  At the beginning, but only for a few short years, the tunes were 'laid back' and moderate in pace. But as the idea of representing the 'Carnival Spirit' began to pervade the thinking of the arrangers, a 'Cultural Panorama tune' began to evolve. The speed began to increase, using up more 'notes', and the complexity of the tune began to grow in response. The idea of a 'Panorama arrangement' had arrived.

  Going up the 'learning curve' is what the Panorama arrangers were doing, and the tunes were getting longer in the process. What was actually musically going on in the development of a Panorama tune, will be outlined as a subsequent topic; but here we can say that the arrangers were learning and developing a new cultural music craft, specific to the steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago, the likes of which had never been explored before.

  The music was moving from being just the rendering of a 'popular calypso' to becoming a 'symphony to carnival' in its own right; steelpan music for the Panorama stage. The 'popular calypso' acting as the skeleton on which to build a complex symphony, voiced by the still changing and expanding ranges of the steelpan instruments themselves.

  By the early 1980's, some 20 years later, these Panorama 'compositions' had constantly grown to be over 10 minutes in length. At this length, and at Panorama pace, the pieces were supremely challenging to compose, to maintain that sparkle of carnival, to hold that interest, to outperform the opposition. Again, unusual here, is an art-form in competition. A mixed metaphor of art competing for instant emotion.

  The about 10 minute 'average' length became the defacto standard for the next 20 years of Panorama. This 10 minute 'average' represented the levelling plateau in the rise of creative expression mixed with a practical length for a tune. This length was about right for the maturation of this 'evolved cultural music-form' of a Panorama tune. Taxing in the extreme for the Panorama arrangers to, year after year, produce an exciting and endearing piece of music, while maintaining an originality of style and surprise in expression. Based on the foundation of Western musical harmonic traditions, the Panorama tune contains many recognisable musical compositional devices in its structure. A start, an end, bridges to parts, change-keys, tonal and rhythmic reharmonisation of theme, to name but a few. But there are more devices that are specific to a TT Panorama tune. Invented runs and expressions specific to the steel drum or steelpan, some of which have become local musical clichés, for use or abuse, as the case may be; together with melodic and rhythmic structures drawn from the indigenised Caribbean, African, Asian and European cultures that cohabit these twin islands. All of this, as referenced in light local satire, compressed into about '10 minutes of glory', by the collective hands of the steelpan players, the pannists, whom in the main (95%), are not musicians at all. Pure magic.

  With the advent of the Compact Disc (CD) in the early 1990's, the 70 minute media capacity limit began to have an effect on the organisers of Panorama, as they wished to have the Finals, at least, available on disc. A 15 steelband Final of 10 minute pieces would produce about 150 minutes of music; a tight squeeze on a double CD of 140 minute capacity. With luck, some renditions would be short, so it could all just about fit. Thus in the latter decade before 2004, the rules reflected some of this concern, by bringing the finals down from around 14 to 12 bands; and placing a limit of 10 minutes on the tune.

  The introduction of the '2004 Panorama format' that split the Panorama into the 3 categories of Small, Medium and Large steelbands, was initially informed by the 70 minute media limit. The 2004 rules stipulated 8 band finals with tunes 8 minutes long. That was 64 minutes of music; even with a tie bringing in an extra band; that was a one CD per Category Final; it would all fit.

  That the finals moved on, by 2014, to include 10 bands per category; is a completely different story. With the technical development of audio and video compression techniques, improvements to the media itself and smart technology media players; the storage limits of CD's or DVD's no longer remains as an issue to a Panorama tune.

  A little amusement can be had from a removed interpretation of the existing Panorama time rules. For the conventional steelbands the limits are 8:00 minutes (± 30 seconds) and for the Single Pan steelbands (SPB's) 6:00 minutes (± 30 seconds); before penalties apply. Of note it that the mighty Phase II Pan Grove performed a well out of the box 6:58 minute piece for the 2014 Large Panorama Semi-Finals, without penalty. What's a Panorama without Phase II? Mighty indeed. On the other hand, a memorable time incident occurred at the Large Finals of 2007, held in the South, that might have tipped a very fine balance against the very Phase II, who were at the time vying for a prestigious 'three in a row' win. A superbly controlled Trinidad All Stars was however in the runnings. The bright red characters of the digital timing clock, that was somehow large in the view for the proceedings of those 2007 Finals, and whizzing to completion of the All Stars tune; to the delighted amazement of all observers, after all that; stopped at a startlingly impressive 8:01 minutes. All Stars got it.

tobagojo - November 2014

The 'Tiger-Counters'

  Regardless to the rules, the bands always broke them and Pan Trinbago was always lax. This went on all the way till about 2004 when Pan Trinbago did start to poke around inside the bands, in monitoring their new 2004 Panorama format of Small, Medium and Large bands, to make sure that the bands were indeed Small, Medium and Large. This was when it began to upset Phase II Pan Groove in particular. It was an arduous task for the Pan Trinbago stage-crew as; it curiously evolved a set of people, the 'counters', adept at finding misnomers, but also with a strength of character to avoid crisis, dampen tempers, and cleverly officiate the desired decrease in numbers, on the spot. They developed a 'nose' for the task, and knew in advance, which bands would be troublesome. There is no 'might be', but only 'would be' here; steelbands are a difficult bunch at the best of times. I personally call these characters the 'tiger counters', having met a few, but thankfully when in discussion, mainly outside of the competitive arena. The word 'Lion' is too tame; you don't need pride, you need action!

  'Tiger counters' hold rather a unique position in the Panorama arena, as they represent the only group of officials who have the immediate power to stop a Panorama steelband dead in its tracks. No matter what position of authority you may hold within the ranks of your steelband, Captain to Manager; if, in the eyes of the 'tiger counter' you have crossed that now highly preverbal 'red-line', you immediately run into that other preverbal 'brick-wall'. Uniquely backed by the 'Rules of Panorama', 'tiger counters' must have one of the most succinct job descriptions on the planet; 'If you're in, you're in; if you're not, you're out!' The power of the 'tiger counters' was demonstrated at an 'incident' that occurred at a SPB & Small steelband Panorama Finals, Skinner Park, San Fernando; that had knock-on effects to the Grand Finals in Port of Spain, that year, 2014.

Panorama - Touching time - Touching cents

  We are reminded that Panoramas can be immensely tedious; it takes all night and tries your patience. The Semi-Finals have generated some of the longest shows ever. With some 45 steelbands to cross the stage in the day; and if you have to count them, it's a nightmare. The shows goes for a 09:00 AM start (which they usually miss) and may end at 04:00AM to 05:00 AM the following morning. That's 19 Hours showtime, 6 Hours playtime - that music; 25 minutes for the band to set up, play for 8 minutes and leave the stage. A bit slow; they should be able to do it all in about 20 minutes. On a 75 member band average; we are talking about 3,375 hyped up musicians will be crossing the stage; and you should be counting them! And an incredible 9,280 hand crafted, finely tuned, unique steel drum instruments will cross the stage. There is other equipment involved as well. You have witnessed, oblivious to is value, a capital investment of some TT$ 31 Million (US$ 5 Million) cross before you. As to the actual cost to the bands themselves, to be here to entertain you at a Semi-Finals; with all the accumulated fees of tuning, the arrangers, the drillers, the paint, the clothes, the food, the decoration, the accumulated transport; just to arrive at a Semi-Final; a mere TT$ 5.4 Million (US$ 870,000). All these figures are authentic.

  Organising this stand of musicians is prodigious. Controlling it is impossible. It all appears to just about happen.

  When it comes to the Finals, those bands that happily make it, and as we are reviewing costs at the moment; have now invested an additional TT$ 45,000 to TT$ 90,000, depending on size, to that average of some TT$ 120,000 (minimum) it cost to appear in the Semies; for a Finals showtime cost of between TT$ 165,000 to some TT$ 210,000. Frugal bands can do it for a bit less, but not much less; and pampered bands are known to expend double that budget. If you are a Tobago band, Bobb's your uncle, double it!

  A few years back (researching), the number of conventional steelbands, in all categories, appearing in the finals was raised from 8 to 10. This was because, in the Large Finals anyway, everybody was bored s***less by the predictable monotony of the same bands appearing in the Finals, year in, year out. An absurdity in itself, if fair mathematical probability statistics were ever applied to the problem. Oh! 'fair' is the scientific term for 'un-biased', by the way. So the two extra bands per category, it was argued, would now add some unexpected variety to the show. The variety is certainly there, but the unexpected has yet to be achieved.

TT National Panorama Steelband Rules

Clipping: 'Gun Pulled' TT Express 6th February 1978 University of the West Indies (UWI), West Indiana Collection, Alma Jordan Library, Tunapuna Campus, Trinidad, TT   This clipping is a little historical gem of reporting on the steelbands, from the West Indiana Collection archive at UWI. Taken from the TT Express, Carnival Monday 1978; its story relates to the weekends Saturday's Panorama Finals at QPS, PoS, Trinidad. Apart from the main headline, which may be an uncomfortable reminder to some of the antics of a past discontented supporter, which story is partially accounted in the 'Panorama Rules' article alongside; the incident still has some resonance's with aspects of today's order of things; but more revealingly, contains other references of more endearing value.   Speaking from some 37 years in the past (2015,present), the reporters cultured demit to 'pansides' is a clue as to how well we have moved culturally forward to now admit the 'steelbands' and 'steel orchestras' as perceived today.   Of the three adjudicators named; one, Steve Duprey has sadly passed away (Brother to the legendary 'Blue Lady' of Laventille, of the sharp tongue, diane (and don't dare capitalise the spelling!), who ferociously supports all panpeople; who penned the 'Panmans Prayer'; who has fussed the Northern and South-Central regional offices of Pan Trinbago to order, during her tenure in those parts; who consistently harrangs the custodians of Desperadoes and Hatters to 'do better' in, dear I say, a watchful motherly way); and of the other two, Hugh Borde (Captain Hell's Kitchen and later Tripoli of Expo 67 fame; and associated with The National Steel Orchestra (1964)) and Merle Albino (now married), despite the fright of that day, are still staunchly active in this arena today. Of the absent adjudicators; Superintendent Anthony Prospect (10/02/1928 to 2000), arranger, composer; instigator and musical director of the TT Police Band and memorable festival arranger for Desperadoes and Casablanca in particular; worked with Renegades; earlier championed by the Mighty Sparrow in calypso The Governors Ball of the mid 1960's; is here noted in practicing his commitment to the art-form; for which he is still fondly held in high regard. The accompanying Captain Arthur Watson, was also a member of the TT Police Band.   But the real gem here, is the unnamed heroin; member of one of the 'pansides', who directly confronted the disaffected gunman (the downside being that she probably knew him!), providing us a rare 'roll model' of affirmative feminism from that era. A reasonable guess would place her as being about 20 at the time of the incident; she would now be in her late 50's to mid 60's. Someone surely, should remember who she is. Can't we find her, and give her some distinguished medal of honour for defusing a potentially tragic situation; our upstandingly brave panwoman?

  At present, only a limited note will be made here about the Panorama rules as they are available on the internet on the official Pan Trinbago web site. Some copies, of historical interest, are also available from this site.

  The TT National Panorama Steelband competition rules come in two sets.

1. Rules for all the Conventional Steelbands, Small, Medium and Large.
2. Rules for the Single Pan Steelbands.

  As one would expect, they stipulate and numerate the; status for qualification, dates, times, venues, band sizes, procedures, cautions, modes of conduct, adjudication principals, scoring methods, disciplinary procedures, penalties, recording rights, arranger conduct, presentation requirements (banners), accepted stage practice and performance procedures, define the parameters of the Preliminaries, Semi-Finals and Finals, prize allocations (but not the amount for the prizes themselves; that is given in a separate document); among much other detail about Panorama.

  Apart from their implicit use as being the Law of Panorama, and to be taken seriously (which they are) by participant steelbands; they have another quality that can often be overlooked.

  The Rules of Panorama are no easy documents, they have evolved, side by side with the steelbands they govern, over the past half-century, and some. Within their content, coded into the dry phrases of legalise, is an inferred history of sociological conduct and traces of technological change that have affected both the organisers and participants of Panorama.

  From it, in a very cursory account here; we can glean that the steelbandsmen (remaining here, characteristically gender-bound with the period) were no easy people. They were vicious in their pursuit to win Panorama. They would use every means at their disposal to disadvantage an opponent, and would wilfully physically obstruct a competitor from appearing on stage in a timely manor, who thereby acquired a penalty; this went on until such a time that the rules disavowed this practice. They were clever in their use of excuses for any perceived infringement they themselves might have committed. Every excuse they made, had to be countered by a rule, so that they could not make the same excuse again. Their member numbers had to be regulated, the lengths of their tunes had to be regulated, and at both ends. Some arrangements are noted to have lasted 15 minutes; others had to be penalised for unpreparedness and with 'last minute laxness', with tunes that were obviously short.

  They would mount the stage on signal of a red flag (or light); commence play to an amber flag (or light); and dismount the stage to a green flag (or light). Much of this probably evolving through necessity of function, in a noisy arena. These movements are also made under threat of penalty, one point per minute, for late movement to mount, and curiously for tarrying to dismount, the stage. But once on stage; no issue of penalty presently exists for the time of setting-up.

  They would cast scornful verbal abuse, and on a few odd occasions even threaten physical attack, upon the adjudicators on receipt of poor results, or for perceived bias towards another band. That is why the adjudicators presently vacate the venue, before any Panorama results are announced. (See attached news item).

  These are some of the cultural eccentricities, hidden in the rules.

The Panorama Finals - Summary

  The TT National Steelband Finals for the Single Pan Steelbands and the Small Conventional Steelbands.

Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad, TT. (This venue could interchange with other venues in the future.)
On the Thursday preceding Carnival. Usually starting at 06:00 PM.
16 SPB Finalists; followed by; 10 Small Conventional Finalists.

  The TT National Steelband Finals for the Medium and Large Conventional Steelbands.

The Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT.
On the Saturday preceding Carnival. Usually starting at 07:00 PM.
10 Medium Conventional Finalists; followed by; 10 Large Conventional Finalists.

On the Last Count

INCIDENT

  An incident in 2014, at the SPB and Small conventional Finals, Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad, went on to affect the Grand Finals of the Medium and Large category at the Grand Stand, Port of Spain. We trace the incident, visit the perpetrators, and review what the impact was to the Grand Finals 2014.

  The popular South steelband Petrotrin Siparia Deltones have had mixed fortunes since the passing of their much revered captain Ellis Knight in November 2007. Perceived as a Large band, with an illustrious past, having played the works of J. Samaroo, C. Bradley and L. Sharpe, among others; having visited Canada; run noted musical workshops in their panyard; and noted as one of the few steelbands with a 'stage side' 'soloing' across all voices; Deltones hold an enviable pedigree of musical achievement. Jumping variously around the conventional categories of late, and even winning a Small Panorama 2007, with 'Zanda's' Fire Ball, Deltones are more noted for their exploits on the Large Finals stage with 'Zanda's' distinctive stylistic arrangements of I'm not Drunk and Trini; which remain two of the very few 'listenable' and 'memorable' Panorama tunes emerging over the past decade and a half. Being home to the capricious gentle-giant arranger/musician Akinola, Deltones seem, again enviably, to have the music-seen well 'corked'. However on the other hand, questionable management practices of late brought the band to its knees, with respect to attracting players; and they moved 'late' to Small category for season 2014; in the process earning zero brownie-points from Pan Trinbago and the yellow-card, 'trouble'. Their Zanda/Akinola rendition of Play More Local took them to an 'expectantly' close 2nd place in the Semi-Finals; setting the scene for the following issue to arise.

   Riding on a 'Large' head, forgetting past ills, smelling the glory of a Finals, band membership, suffering the usual Trini turn-around, once somebody else had done all the hard work, returned to Max-out the Small category limit in panyard practice the week before the Finals. Flushed with excitement, to add spice to the proceedings; characters adorned in colourful carnival accruements, were to accompany the ensemble through the Finals; or so it was expressed. Deltones profusely mounted the stage at the Small Finals, and promptly tripped over the 'tiger counters'.

  As previously expressed, the 'tiger counters' are sharp, very. Noting that characters adorned in colourful carnival accruements do not appear anywhere in the 'book', they concluded that they should not appear anywhere on the stage ether; they promptly cleared the entire stage of all personnel. Sharp. That left the stage full of instruments which they could count. Sharp. They concluded from their count that there were 7-'overs'; and returned off-stage to deliver the only ultimatum.

  What could have been sorted in 5 minutes, fell apart when Deltones lost their bottle and spooned out dispersions, all over the place, spilling as far as a local broadcaster. The situation spiralled to fracas until cooler heads put some sense into it. With senior Pan Trinbago officials now in attendance, the situation chewed up over half an hour of showtime before settling to order. Deltones were allowed to proceed to stage using the correct number of players; and 'penalties' to be decided at a later closed conference of the Pan Trinbago executive; any prize due, presently to be withheld.

INDIGINANT

  The resulting deflation of Deltones came in two stages. It would sadly affect the players more than the band itself, as shall be shown.

  Deltones placed 2nd, Panorama 2014 Small Band, missing the top by 6 points; but drove away empty handed. This only emphasised the 'no-brainer' that the institutional Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra has the musical resources to go places. Unaffecting the institution of Deltones; the Pan Trinbago deliberations came in with the penalties, about two weeks after the event.

  With a 'For inappropriate behaviour & presenting more players than was allowed', it was clear that the Pan Trinbago Disciplinary Committee had been activated with the 'Book of Rules' close at hand.

  Deltones were demoted, not disqualified, in competition. They placed 'zeroth' in competition; nice. They were effectively beaten by everybody. 'Nice' only because it allows the report that; the forgotten band, New World Symphony Steel Orchestra, ET, 49th in the Preliminaries, beat Siparia Deltones Steal Orchestra, SC, for Panorama 2014, and move up to 48th ranking.

  Other penalties began to bite deeper, but luckily for the band, not as far as they could have gone. A punitive, few thousand TT$ fine accrued; but the next bit stung.

  Deltones fell to 'last position' (careful - not 10th place) of the Finals; but recall, have no 'place' in the Finals; nice again. This then allows the next curious reporting; Humming Bird Pan Groove, NT, 11th in the Semi-Finals, now placed 10th in the Panorama 2014 Small Band competition (but not 10th in the Finals); La Horquetta Pan Groove, ET, moved up to 9th place in the Finals of the Panorama 2014 Small Band competition; and Crescendoes Musical placed 2nd in the Finals of the Panorama 2014 Small Band competition, replacing Siparia Deltones. All the steelbands that moved up a position in the Small Finals received adjustments in prize monies, commiserate with their new position.

  Deltones received prize monies, less fine, commiserate with 10th Finals position; a significant loss when compared with the 2nd place prize; all to pure foolishness. The players, having been stilted on their expected earnings over the previous 2 Grand Final Panorama appearances of the band, now faced a third year with low expectation. A situation, that was again, 'not their fault'.

  It would be fair to report that this incident has been very embarrassing for Deltones, in more ways than one, and one hopes that lessens will be learnt from it. It does however cause pause to reflect that the "Leh we do a 'ting na" style management, that is not uncommon within our steelbands, needs to step up a notch in responsibility. Responsibility for the Pan Culture, still supported and reliant on those who have very little; and who could well do without these types of issues; if all are to properly survive.

IMPACT

  The Deltones incident, at the SC SPB & Small band Finals; happening late the Thursday night before the carnival weekend 2014. It reverberated through the Pan Trinbago head offices the following day, the day before the Grand Finals. Like fire under a Jack-Spaniards nest, it got them buzzing on the topic of band size, which then heightened their focus on the topic. Stung somewhat by the inflammatory way the South incident had played itself out, with a few lessons learnt, they set about to prevent any such incident occurring at the coming Grand Finals.

  The Panorama 2014 Grand Finals Medium & Large started around 15 minutes late on its 7:00 PM program start and ended some 9 hours later at 04:15 AM, after the last band played; with the Final results about 30 minutes later. Accounting a show with 21 bands, and a mid-point adjudicator changeover with presentations of about half an hour; Pan Trinbago had averaged just over 24 minutes per band slot-time. In addressing some later complaints about a long show, they had declared that it had been lengthened because of counting the bands.

  Despite an extra band in the show, Pan Trinbago had done well enough, and had been counting. The figures indicate that they had chewed up just over an hour of show-time doing it. Previous Panoramas indicate a slot-time of around 21 minutes per band. It is interesting to note that we will probably never actually know what incidents may have occurred during the 2014 Grand finals count. Any real infringements would have been dealt with by simply putting out players, and letting the 'pans hang'; the term used for an unoccupied pan instrument during playtime.

   What we do know is that there were no obvious incidents to upset the show, and conclude that some cool heads must have been in action. The incident in the South had turned out to be a red-flag, and Pan Trinbago, to its credit, had taken notice.

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Judging Area in the Grand Stand (post Sound Specialists of Laventille - Medium) with the digital clock; and the red, amber and green lights (on post - right), for adjudicator readiness to the band.
07 min: 22.24 sec. The digital clock is 0.20 secs over the timed recorded period for the tune; the 0.20 secs reaction time for the 'stop' person; pretty good timing.
M + L Panorama Semi-Finals, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 1st Feb 2015 by John Schmidt

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Pan O Rama

  The when frustrates you, waiting for the steelbands. But when finally, on each separate occasion, when it does happen, when the music sings, when the iron reverberates in your soul, when you are taken by the rhythm, when you recognise the familiar and hear the unexpected, when you are beaten down and then driven up into ecstasy, when you realise you will never hear it quite like that again, you know then; when you're at Panorama.

  tobagojo - Nov 1997

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A fully engaged Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille (M) with arranger Ken 'Professor' Philmore airborne in energetic animation while conducting Na Do Dat in the late afternoon
Sound Specialists of Laventille placed joint-3rd in this 2015 Semi-Finals and joint-5th in the 2015 Medium Steelband TT Panorama Grand Finals
M + L Panorama Semi-Finals, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT - 1st Feb 2015 by John Schmidt

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   PANYARD

  If you live next to a panyard you're in deep s***! Your predicament just adequately described, as in some cases, you have been putting up with this behemoth of a sound engine, this iron age industrial complex, this collection of dustbins, this focal point of social intrigue, this gathering of Mozart's distant cousins gone crazy, for the past 60 years.

  Panyards come in all shapes and sizes, and are generally not a pretty sight, with rough iron wire barricades placed around any structures, to protect the instruments from theft. The yards occupy all sorts of places; usually rough abandoned ground, land between buildings or even next to graveyards. The lands themselves may be on loan, rented, presented to or owned by the bands. Sometimes bands have to move if the landlord has other ideas for the site.

  Some yards are very old and some are new. Some started near trees, used for shade, as is the fabled breadfruit tree of the Invaders yard. Hillside in San Fernando are under a tall chennet tree and Pamberi, north east of the Croisse in San Juan, on their graveyard site, practice in an auditorium under the spread of a massive saman.

  Some panyards have names of their own, but these are few, and have mostly passed into legend. One was the "Hell Yard" of Trinidad All Stars; but that is for another story.

  The disposition of the panyards varies. From rickety wooden constructions, with peeling paint, rusty galvanised roof and even rusty drums; through those looking like small back street car parks with covered cages of drums, untidy stacks of steel 'pan-racks' used for transporting the drums on the road, even with the odd old car under plastic storage hoping for better days. Then there are the yards with the concrete buildings with the iron gates. Some small and hot, some open and airy, and some like warehouses. The diversity is enormous.

  Some yards have areas where the drums are cut and the tops are sunk, and they are scribed and hammered and tempered on open wooden fires, and teased again by the tuners in a process akin to dual alchemy; where an insignificant steel drum rises like the phoenix through the fires and the hammering to be metamorphosed into an instrument of charming purity. It is from these yards, that the name "panyard" is most probably derived.

Pan Elders Pan Theatre, Carib Street, San Fernando, Trinidad, TT. - 20110627 - tobagojo

  The conditions of the yards and instruments reflect the fortunes of the bands to whom they belong. With hard work and good stewardship, some bands have built themselves substantial yards, adequate facilities and show shiny chromed instruments. Or with the aid of sponsorship from local businesses and the odd supportive local council, bands have been resited to new panyards or had their yards refurbished thereby being more comfortably rehoused.

  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

  Of quick note, from a topic of detail that exceeds this brief at this time, is the influence of politicians and governments in the development of various panyards. Dr Eric 'Doc' Williams, highly visible with his and his PNM governments interest and assistance to the 'Peoples Band', Desperadoes; is less well known for his vision, insistence and encouragement to local enterprises, to provide sponsorship to all of the steelbands of TT (R. Forteau). In 1990, some funds from an entity called the 'TOSORO settlement', under the NAR government of A.N.R. Robinson, under the direction of Minister Mrs Jane Ule Williams, the Pan Cottages Programme was directed towards structures in the yards of Desperadoes, Sound Specialists of Laventille, Trinidad All Stars, Scherzando, Tropical Angel Harps, Kalomo Kings, Arima Angel Harps and Siparia Deltones. Patric Manning, PNM, is reputed to have approved the Motown PanTheatre project; and in 2000, Sadiq Basch, UNC, promoting Trinmars sponsorship of Hatters, with the follow on of (the same but now renamed company) Petrotrin, sponsoring the construction of their PanTheatre a few years later. There were likely more projects and panyards than listed here.

  PANYARD OWNERSHIP

  Another quick note, from another topic of detail that exceeds this brief at this time, is the subject: Do the steelbands own their PanYards? Having started, by tradition, by occupying empty lots and undeveloped 'State Lands', all over the country; many steelbands effectively started their tenure as 'squatters'. As to who now owns the plots; a quick guess would suggest that half of them don't; whereas the others have 'permissions', leases, or in fact do own their PanYards. The true state of affairs lays in the files of Pan Trinbago who, in around 2012, pursued a survey of their registered steelbands on this topic. No data has yet arisen in the public domain about this survey. Of example to some issues faced by the steelbands, are the yards of Starlift and Phase II Pan Groove. We must note before continuing, that it is problematic to relocate a panyard, on reasons of simple sociological grounds; in that if it is moved too far away from proximity to the community with which it is involved, the bands identity can fragment, the community lose interest and the band you now have, is not the same as the band you had before; or it may even 'die'. Sittings on lands earmarked for housing development, Starlift and Phase II were requested to move, and were offered alternative locations. Starlift accepted and Phase II declined. Stakeholders of the lands were angered at Phase II's intransigence. Phase II, whose weight in the steelband world is mighty, being at the top in steelband permanence with a duel card of; multiple Panorama wins; and being home to, and mentored by, the iconic arranger 'Boogsie' Sharpe, hold steadily to their decision to stay put. Despite using their weight as an obvious holding strategy, Phase II, more consonant to their community ties perhaps then outsiders, maintain the simple argument; if we move, then Phase II is no more. So we find Phase II Pan Groove in the same place, Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Trinidad, TT, today.

  The common thing about all these panyards is that although at times they are empty and appear dead; there is always a space, an area, an auditorium where some instruments are protected from the sun and rain and laid out, waiting. In some, players will come in small groups to play and practice off and on, day or night. In more fortunate areas, steel drum players of stature and experience will come to share their great love for the instrument and teach groups of local teenagers in music workshops. In early December 1997, the Jazz steel drum wizard Othello Molineaux came all the way from Florida for a week, to do just that, with a group at the Pamberi yard. This activity happens in many panyards, the latest of note being visits of New York arranger Andy Narrel, to teach with Birdsong, in 2012 and 2013. Over the past decade, has been seen the growth of many 'Pan Camps' and 'Music Literacy Workshops' run and organised by the steelbands themselves, with a focus on developing the youth within their communities.

  But to an industrial world looking in on Trinidad and Tobago, familiar with the concept of "Just in Time" manufacturing, a concept a little advanced for these islands in general, will find an unlikely advocate in our panmen. For just before a steelband competition is due, or just before carnival time, our "Just in time" panmen will begin trickling into the yards to practice. The "Just in time" drives the arrangers nuts! The arrangers know the fickleness of the players only too well. The arrangers know that the "Just in time" players are up to tricks. They are not just here for the band, as the romanticised publicity of Panorama would suggest; the "Just in time" players are around for every excuse in vanity and self interest that you can find. The "Just in time" players are here to grandstand, to get glory, to vie for a contract. The arrangers know that the "Just in time" players do not win Panorama; you need "All the time" players to do that, but concede that a few "Just in time" players could help. People gather to watch and listen. Business has begun and the yard is alive again. And a "Boogsie", a "Smooth", a "Professor", a Stewart, a Huggins-Watts or whichever steel drum garu holds the rein of the band will coax them into musical form.

  And they practice and practice and practice. You know there is a panyard there. And they practice when the garu is there. And you know you live near a panyard. And they practice when the garu is not there. And you wished you lived somewhere else. And slowly it happens. You know it because you have heard it over and over when it did not. You nearly don't mind, you are used to it now. You are drawn into this numbing phase where you listen docile and beaten. You don't really know what the garu really wants, but you know it is close; this thing that usually isn't written down, but it does not matter if it is either; as it's happening right now and right here, and you wait for it. You are living this repeat because it has now become your tune as well. It starts again, and it goes and you follow each note, every beat, and it goes, and it flows, and it goes, and it goes, and it goes and Yessss! They did it! Did you hear that? Eh! Magic! Ent!

  They will do it, over and over again, to get it right. And if you are lucky, near a well organised band, you may even hear a different tune.

  Where ever the band goes; with truckfulls of steel drums, or rolling out of the yard on their 'pan-racks', you are locked into the band. When the "Just in time" steelbandsmen play at that competition, or on the carnival "road", you follow those notes, each and every one of them, as much as the band, because they are your notes too - you earned them; and the steelband owns you.

   THE STEELBAND DRUM INSTRUMENTS

The musical chrome pans of Exodus shine expectantly in the afternoon sun at the Jean Pierre Complex, Woodbrook, PoS, Trinidad during WSMF 2000, 17th October

tobagojo

  It is not my intention to describe these unique hand made steel drum instruments here, as others have made a far better job of it. Ulf Kronman, in his book Steel Pan Tuning, has done excellent work on this topic; and it is to his internet pages that these links lead. He presents many practical pictures, and much informative information, on each of these instruments.
  His further references to a STEEL PAN HISTORY and THE STEELBAND are additive to these discussions.

STEEL DRUM INSTRUMENTS	Links to: Steel Pan Tuning by Ulf Kronman
Tenor (Soprano) Pan Double Tenor (Alto) Double Second (Tenor) Quadrophonic Pan Four Pan Double Guitar Pan Triple Cello (Baritone) Tenor Bass Six Bass Nine Bass	The Trinidad Tenor Pan   The reason for naming the highest pan of the steelband ‘tenor’ is historical: In the early days the lead melody was played on a pan with less than 10 notes. These notes were bigger than on todays tenors and the pitch was in the tenor range - therefore it was suitable to call the pan a tenor.   As the instrument developed, more notes were put into the tenor to increase its range. The new notes had to be made smaller, thus putting the pan in a higher tonal range. But the name ‘tenor’ prevailed. Today it would be more proper to call it a soprano, which is also the usual case outside Trinidad. © 1992 Ulf Kronman Pg 113; Steel Pan Tuning

   PAN PEOPLE

  No reference to the steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago could hold any weight, without some reference to the extraordinarily dedicated and talented men and women, who have in the past, or endeavour today, to make it all happen. These are some of the pioneers; steel drum makers, tuners, players, arrangers or composers who invented the steel drums, or captained bands, or created new sounds, or bent the rules, of not only music, to issue in this new dimension of musical experience. These are the people of the drums of steel, the poets of the soul in iron; the fathers and the mothers of steelband legend; the children and the heralds of our future “pan”. These are our Pan People.

	Press	Authors - Arrangers - Campaigners - Composers	Press
CPNO	PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE			BIOG
	Iron Players	Pioneers Presidents	Band Leaders
CPNO	PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE PAN PEOPLE			BIOG
	Press	Pan Players - Pan Tuners - Ethnomusicologists	Press

   Brief BIO PAN TRINBAGO

  Pan Trinbago represents the head of a body comprising an affiliation of members drawn from all the traditional cultural steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago. Its official name is Pan Trinbago Inc., considers itself as an Association of members, operating under a Constitution (1986) with an elected executive; with an objective being to ...'act as the sole representative for members and member Steelbands in all matters relative to the development, promotion and performance of Steelpan and Steelband music within the Republic and throughout the world in its capacity as the World Governing Body for Steelpan and Steelband music'.

  Pan Trinbago has a head office, The Secretariat, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and four regional offices; Eastern Region in Tacarigua, Northern Region in Port of Spain, Southern & Central Region in San Fernando and the Tobago Region in Scarborough, Tobago.

  At present, Pan Trinbago controls all aspects of the TT National Steelband Panorama competitions; where any steelband that wishes to participate in the Panorama competitions must have been a full member; of minimum two years standing.

  Outside the purview of Pan Trinbago are; all non-member steelband ensembles operating in TT together with a large number of National School steelbands; except those ensembles of National School steelbands that may have elected to become members to participate in Junior Panorama.

  Pan Trinbago's claim to be the World Governing Body for Steelpan and Steelband Music is facetious at best, having no recognised legal authority in these matters outside of TT. The claim is disputed by many steelpan bodies external to TT; although some do pay tacit respect to Pan Trinbago, mainly in reflection to their acknowledgement that TT is the Home and the considered 'Mecca' of Pan. Without an International Charter of Steelband Affiliations, similar to the charters operated by The United Nations, there is little hope that Pan Trinbago could otherwise aspire to its claims. This status of Pan Trinbago began to change however, in 2015.

  Pan Trinbago is itself an evolved body dating back to the beginning of the steelbands “earlies”. Starting as a loose association of steelbandsmen around the late 1940's called the Associations of Steelbands, it became an official body: The Steelbands Association, 1950 - 1963. In August 1962, Trinidad and Tobago relinquished it's British Colonial Dominion status and became an Independent Nation; but remained as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Under the fervour of nationalism, the association moved shortly thereafter to be named the National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen, 1963 - 1971. In 1971, in a debate to more strongly define a universal identity (see below) its name was changed to Pan Trinbago, 1971 (Ref: G Goddard) to 1986. In August 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a twin-island Republic; but still remained a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Republic, being much distracted by other priorities, took a decade before returning to address the matters of the steelbandsmen. In 1986, by an act or Parliament (Act 5 of 1986; Senate 28th January, House of Representatives 28th February, Assented 14th March) to the present, Pan Trinbago became incorporated under seal as Pan Trinbago Incorporated. For this Assent, it also received it's first constitution, The Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc. (1986) and received the monica World Governing Body For Pan; registered as a non-profit organisation. In 1992, the government declared the steel drums, or the steelpans, the National Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago. In August 2015, at the International Conference and Panorama (ICP 2015) held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Pan Trinbago Inc. in an attempt to strengthen its claim to be the World Governing Body For Pan, made strong legal associations with the steelbands of Britain and France; and more loosely bound associations with the steelbands of Canada, the USA and Japan (which may have also included the steelbands of Cuba, from which a delegation was present, but whose actions are here presently unconfirmed); under documents called Memoranda of Understanding (MOU's).

  The name Pan Trinbago is attributed to one Mrs Marjorie Wooding; ex school teacher, St Stephen's Collage, Princess Town; a past in-house and Panorama arranger for Silver Tones Steel Orchestra of San Fernando; at the time a representative for San Fernando Organetts Steel Orchestra, at a meeting of the National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen in Chagaramas that was discussing the naming issue; proposed the name at the meeting. (Ref: AJ McBurnie; D Balbosa)

  In the last quarter of 2016, Pan Trinbago Inc. fell into disrepute with allegations of internal corruption and of mismanagement of funds; among some other issues. The outcome as to the validity of these allegations and issues, remains ongoing at this time.

tobagoojo - 20170113

 

   THE HEAD AND THE HEART OF PAN

  What may not be directly apparent to the casual observer, or nonchalant visitor, or one who discovers a 'pan' in TT for the first time; is that in Trinidad and Tobago and many other countries as well, is that the steel drum instrument has matured into, and is now fully accepted as, an ordinary musical instrument. It is used with the same degree of casuality; or engenders the same passioned obsessiveness; as that displayed by musicians of the saxophone or guitar for example.

  Playing the 'pan' instrument is taught in some schools, particularly in those assisted by the TT government 'Pan in Schools' programme; at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT); at the University of the West Indies (UWI); at some specific 'Pan School' panyards; and at the panyards of some of the traditional Institutional Steelbands which run 'Pan Camps' or 'Steelpan Music Literacy Workshops' as they are called, as well. Players learn to read, write and play music on 'pan', and are given reference to the 'History of the Steel Pan and the Steelbands'. The 'steelpan' can be found in some homes and at the hands of some 'street musicians', on some street corners or near a popular beach. Young and seasoned musicians alike, go to the panyards and play and practice, in that middle time, when the band's main membership are away from using their instruments. Extemporaneous jam sessions evolve. Talented solo players and seasoned ensembles are recognised, admired and sought after. Some steelbands now play some tunes from, or aided by, a music score. Composers and Arrangers for steelband music, now use electronic and IT technologies to write, read and distribute their music. The more traditional methods of; 'by vibe' directed by example or by vocal-delivery, or by 'rote' as it is called, is still alive and well and flourishes from the bands respected arrangers or musically talented associates.

  Through the strong and heady rhythmic roots of calypso; the restrained, scornful and abstemiously pious directives of religious congregational appearances; the Colonial classical bias of its early wealthy supporters; the romantic interlude of "Yellow Bird" tourist and Hollywood "Rum and Coca Cola" patriotism and popularity; the steel drum instruments, as with the steelbands themselves, have now moved on to new dimensions in the experience of sound.

  Beyond just the traditional local day-use music-forms of the African influenced Calypso, Soca, Power Soca, Groovy Soca; the Colonial Spanish influenced Parang; the Asian influenced Chutney and Chutney Soca; the Jamaican influenced Reggae, Ragga and Concious; excursions into all areas of world music, from contemporary Pop, R&B, Country Western, Latin, Alternative, Rap, Hip-Hop, Hi-Life, World Beat, Jazz through to Western styled European Classical music, are all being visited. Additionally, new compositions, specific to the voices of the steel drum instruments themselves, are being composed, rendered and explored here, in Trinidad and Tobago.

  The steel drum instrument or 'steelpan', still in the plastic phase of its development, has some way to go before it becomes common place and ubiquitous. It is still a hand crafted and craft tuned instrument; although phases of its manufacture have been mechanised. The sound it renders, copied with great precision, but still missing a little touch of its dissonant spectral heart, lies resident in the electronic brains of such popular synthesisers as manufactured by Casio, Roland and Yamaha - to name but a few - and indeed coded - 'pitched percussion, metal, steel drums' - within the electronics of nearly every sound-synthesiser chip-set - which could be part of the very computing-device you are using right now - is now recognised, the world over.

  The forms of music that the steel drum instruments, together with their head of steelbands, will reproduce in the future should thankfully remain limitless. It can only be hoped, that as these instruments mature; as the steelbands spread and clone across the globe; that a nuance of their rhythmic islands soul, remains.

The Steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago - 2nd Edition - tobagojo July 2014; July 2016

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Compiled & Processed by Islands Research for:
The Steelbands (Pan) of Trinidad & Tobago
http://www.seetobago.org/trinidad/pan/index.htm

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:-)

© 1997: tobagojo@gmail.com - org19971123 20080104 - 1m20071228 - 2m20140615 Historic Update: 14 January 2008; Last Update: 16 February 2023 00:36:00 TT Processed by: Jeremy G de Barry

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