Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
Whenever we discuss the future of the steelband, we keep hearing these tired old arguments about "changing times" and "old school", and "pushing pans" which have nothing to do with my ideas when I speak of modern steelbands participation in carnival beyond panorama My entire argument is simple. The steelband , even after all these … Continue reading Trinidad’s Carnival culture and the role of the Steelband.
The inescapable fact is that the steelbands of T&T and its representative organization Pan Trinbago have no choice but to find alternative sources of income besides dependence on government subsidies. Looking objectively at Pan Trinbago's main event the Panorama , we can see that there is no way it can be cost-effective , when we … Continue reading Steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago , Pan Trinbago , and money
In the 1950's and 1960's, the smooth sounds of the Sel Duncan Orchestra , featuring his sweet, silvery toned alto saxophone were the preferred soundtracks for formal and semi-formal parties and dances , and his was a household name in T&T. Highly respected and admired for his skill withthe saophone , he was awarded the … Continue reading The Sel Duncan Orchestra of Trinidad
What can the future hold for the steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago? Where do we go from here? Where we go from here depends on what options we think are available for the Steelband, and most of us are inside a"pan bubble", so we see "through a glass darkly " as the Bible says. For … Continue reading Where does the steelband go from here?
In my opinion ,Lord Kitchener's " Is de Pan in Me" is the perfect steelpan calypso. As a matter of fact , I think it should be some sort of a pan players anthem. Apart from the sweet and exciting melody , the Grand Master's lyrics tell a story that is all too familiar … Continue reading “Is De Pan in Me” ( Lord Kitchener ) – The perfect steelpan calypso.
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
The steelpan and its culture belongs to Trinidadians, all Trinidadians, and of course Tobagonians. We cannot on one hand refer to the instrument as our national instrument , and yet have it claimed by or even identified with one ethnic group that makes up less than forty percent of the nation's population. It is therefore … Continue reading It’s not an “Afro” thing , it’s a “Trini” thing !
The nineteen sixties were my formative years, and was a great time to be young in Trinidad , especially since our musical culture , influenced by modern trends, had reached perhaps its most vibrant and creative era. That was the decade during which the steelbands matured into a viable musical alternative to the wind and … Continue reading Ansel Wyatt , an authentic Trinidad guitar hero , and his Combo.
G R JOSEPH 