Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
Pan pioneer Ellie Mannette has died. He was 90. Born Elliot Mannette in San Souci, Trinidad on November 5, 1927, Mannette passed away on Wednesday August 29 , 2018 at a hospital in West Virginia, USA. As long as the art-form related to the steel-pan endures , the name Ellie Mannette will not be forgotten. … Continue reading R.I.P Dr. Elliot “Ellie” Mannette
Far be it for my to criticize my Trini people from afar , but sometimes I think we live in a bubble , and do not think real world events can affect us. For example , all the talk about Petrotrin seems to be centered on politics , I see little discussion about the business … Continue reading What now , Petrotrin ?
It is no secret that many of us would like to see a return to a strong participation by steelbands in all aspects of Trinidad's Carnival , including a major role in providing music for the carnival parade. Such activities , however would take a lot of work and planning . This is not the … Continue reading Another question no one asks : Are steelbands of today even capable of providing music for Trinidad’s Carnival parade ?
I am always struck by the notion that some insist on seeing the steelband's future purely as business. And I'm not talking about the professional panist, or even the small 'side" that does gigs and may even be doing quite well. And obviously for a steelband to be successful, its finances should be handled in … Continue reading The Steel-band in Trinidad : Should it be seen as Art, Culture or…..Business?
OK folks. There have been a lot of discussion about returning the steelband to the more active role in the carnival parade , and this discussion has usually degenerated into a argument over the difficulty of achieving mobility for the Steelband , "pushing pan", and a belief expressed by some that trying to replicate Steelband … Continue reading Steelbands : From the Streets to the Concert Hall
One of my biggest disagreements with pan people , is based on different perceptions of the art-form , and its role in culture and society. From the beginning , some has seen the steel-pan and everything related to it , including the players, as commodities to be developed, with the idea of exporting them to … Continue reading Making T&T the true Mecca for the steel pan and its art-form
Ok my friends , I would like to take a moment for clarification, and to share my thoughts about panorama as it relates to Steelband progress. I love panorama , have loved it from the beginning , and even participated as a player in the early years. But over my lifetime , I’ve seen panorama … Continue reading Some thoughts on Panorama and Steelband Progress in T&T
It is a joy to see steel-band activities such as Pan on D'Avenue (Woodbrook) and the Laventille Steel-band parade, that attempt to present the beauty and power of the mobile steel-band. The more relaxed pace of the music , also reminds us that the steel-band has its own musical groove , and doesn't really have … Continue reading Pan on the Move – the mobile steel-band
Saturday, May 19, 2018 I've been trying to follow the controversies surrounding the current leadership of Pan Trinbago from afar and , though I have my personal thoughts , I do not have enough factual information on the issues affecting the steelband community , and so I have refrained from voicing strong opinions , … Continue reading Some thoughts on the Pan Trinbago controversies…..
·Friday, April 20, 2018 Someone asked a question regarding the naming of Pan Trinbago as an organization , and it set me thinking. Why is Pan Trinbago a “Corporation” ? Was incorporation in the best interest of its members ? According to Pan Trinbago (their website) their Mandate is the following : "Pan Trinbago … Continue reading Why is Pan Trinbago a “Corporation” ?
G R JOSEPH 