|
THE LAST PANORAMA,
MASTER CLIVE BRADLEY AND THE STEELBAND LIBRARY
This is an open letter to Mr. Patrick Arnold, who is the
current President of Pantrinbago. There are now plans by the
government, as was stated by the Minister of Culture, that the
government intends to tear down the Grand Stand and build a cultural
center in the Queen’s Park Savannah by 2008 or thereabouts and also
build the Pantrinbago headquarters. All laudable projects! As a
result, I am requesting that Pantrinbago demand that the government
build a steelband library in the new carnival cultural center or at
the new Pantrinbago headquarters which they intend to build. So, why
doesn’t Trinbago have a steelband library to house the history and
artifacts of the national instrument? We can include a steelband
library in the plans for the new carnival cultural center or the
building of Pantrinbago’s headquarters. But, only Pantrinbago’s
input can bring such a library to fruition. No one else has the
responsibility to bring this idea to reality but Pantrinbago. Mr.
Arnold, please take charge and protect the history and artifacts of
our national instrument.
The more Panoramas we have the more things remain the same. The year
2006 will be remembered as a memorable year for the steelband
movement since it was the year that the last Panorama was held in
the Queen’s Park Savannah. There were many who expected Pantrinbago
to grab the opportunity and portray a gala ceremony honoring the
late Master Clive Bradley whose death in November 2005 dealt the
steelband movement a terrible blow. Instead, many were disappointed
and some will say that Pantrinbago failed to do the right thing. Mr.
Arnold, you know, Master Bradley brought the steelband movement and
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra much honor and fame with his panorama
arrangements for steelbands in the big yard at the Queen’s Park
Savannah. Master Bradley’s panorama arrangements even moved a
European panist from Desperadoes to want to score the master’s music
arrangements for a German orchestra. But, Mr. Arnold, the time to
honor Master Bradley was at the 2006 panorama simply because it was
in the big yard that Master Bradley gave panjumbies and the world
his most beautiful arrangements of panorama music. Now that the
government is tearing down the Grand Stand to build a carnival
cultural center Pantrinbago lost a great opportunity to showcase to
the world how they honor our steelband heroes and heroines.
Mr. Arnold, I want you to understand the significance and importance
of a steelband library in either of these buildings the government
intends to build. If you fail to get it, then Pantrinbago will fall
short of realizing the notable goal of gathering all historical
artifacts of the steelband movement, especially the panorama, in one
place. The world needs to know who our steelband heroes and heroines
are so that the record speaks for itself. Every year our national
instrument portrays beautiful musical gems at the panorama but those
musical gems are not housed in one place for prosperity. We have no
statistics on Pantrinbago’s Web site for the panorama steelband
finalists beginning in 1963 except for the first three winning bands.
What about the other steelband finalists? Mr. Arnold, let me give
you an example of what I am talking about. If you follow basketball,
hockey, baseball or cricket you will see on their Web sites
statistics for every year the respective team has played. This
enables followers of those teams to track the development and
history of the team. They can also follow the career of any player
by going to the respective web site. Mr. Arnold, Why can’t
panjumbies do that on Pantrinbago’s Web site? Why should the
steelband movement be any different? Mr. Arnold, if you want
steelband music to be profitable you must create the market for it.
That begins with Pantrinbago putting on their Web site statistics to
create an interest in the steelbands and the arrangers.
Pantrinbago’s must bring the steelband movement to the people.
Pantrinbago’s Web site should also have pictures of all its past
presidents like Sydney Gollop, Nathaniel Crichlow, George
Goddard, Junior Pouchet, Arnim Smith and Owen Serrette whose
leadership kept the steelband movement alive. Remember your
presidency is sitting on the shoulders of those courageous and
fearless men. Why doesn’t Pantrinbago have pictures of these
pioneers on its Web site? Mr. Arnold, if Pantrinbago needs help
please let us know for the world is watching the steelband movement.
While Pantrinbago seeks to address the above problems I would like
to offer a few memorable moments about our national instrument. In
1962, following the Christmas holidays, the steelband movement was
getting ready for their first Panorama to be held in 1963. Trinbago
had received their political independence from England on August 31,
1962 so the idea of creating a national festival for the steelbands
was a first and important display of independence. Previously, the
only national festivals were the music festivals held bi-annually
for steelbands to play European classical music. Those music
festivals attracted the middle class. But, the new national
steelband festival (Panorama) was going to be held every carnival
and their choice of music was Trinbago’s classical music, calypso.
The stage was set and the calypso of choice for the winning
steelband, North Stars, was “Dan is the Man” sung by Sparrow.
Kitchener had just returned to Trinidad from his sojourn in England
and the steelband that placed third Desperadoes played Kitchener’s
calypso “The Road”. Anthony Williams was the arranger of North Stars
and Beverly Griffith was the arranger of Desperadoes. The steelband
that placed second was Sundowners from the San Fernando area. They
played Sparrow’s calypso “Harry and Mama”. And so began the rivalry
between two of Trinbago’s greatest calypsonians Sparrow and
Kitchener for the steelbands to play their music for panorama and
for on carnival days leading to the winner of the Road March. In
those days the steelband used to determine the winner of the Road
March competition. Mr. Arnold, this is the only information I can
give because Pantrinbago doesn’t keep statistics about all the
steelband finalists on your web site. Now you see the problem Mr.
Arnold.
From the Christmas of 1962 until the last week before panorama night
in 1963, there was a big lime on the bridge on Piccadilly Street and
in the panyards every Friday and Saturday night where panjumbies
would gather analyzing the various tunes and steelbands that were to
enter the first panorama competition. City Symphony was seen as a
threat with Michigan as their tuner and arranger. The bigger threat
was Invaders. After all, Invaders had Cobo Jack, well renowned
soloist and the best pan tuner of the day, Ellie Mannette. North
Stars was never seen as a threat because it was known as a music
festival steelband. Even their calypso renditions were classical in
nature. But, panjumbies knew that Anthony Williams was a musical
force with whom they had to reckon. All Stars did not enter because
they were not a member of the new Steelband Association. There
non-membership in the association had already cost them a presence
on the first national steelband (TASPO) to tour England in the
1950s. It was not that All Stars felt they were not up to the task
of winning the competition. But, Neville Jules had some bad feelings
about the idea of a panorama and membership in a steelband
association. For some reason, he perceived that the panorama’s
competitiveness would threaten the steelbands. And, as he told me,
he did not feel that All Stars should join the steelband association
which he saw as an organization to control the steelbands who were
always fighting on carnival days. All Stars was one of the few
steelbands that were never involved in the carnival steelband fights.
So it would be another three years before All Stars chose to enter
the panorama which they did in 1966. Their tune of choice was
Sparrow’s calypso “Patsy”. They won their first Panorama in 1973
with Kitchener’s calypso “Rainorama”. The rest is history. But, Mr.
Arnold no can read about that piece of history on Pantrinbago’s Web
site because it is not there. Pantrinbago only give statistics of
the first three winning steelbands. Pantrinbago should have
statistics on all the finalist steelbands.
In 1963, the first panorama (the nation’s supreme music festival)
was held at the big yard in the Queen’s Park Savannah and panjumbies
turned out in mass numbers to support their band of choice. Under
the leadership of George Goddard, president of the then Steelband
Association, the steelband movement was on its way to fame and glory
until 1979 when the wheels stopped briefly because the steelbands
rebelled after the preliminaries for more prize money. The year of
1979 was the first and only steelband boycott from the panorama. As
a result, there was no panorama that year. Indeed a water-shed year
in the annals of panorama history. But, there is historical record
of the boycott on Pantrinbago’s Web site. All the Panorama music
from that year was lost or maybe hidden away by some lucky panist.
From 1963 through 1979 the steelbands were small and the music was
simple verse and chorus without any strong arrangements. In 1972 and
1974 a new era was born again as panists like Ray Holman and Boogsie
started to compose their own panorama music. Then came the 1980s and
the calypso music evolved. A new music was on the scene. It was
called soca and started by the calypsonian Shorty. But, this soca
was a little different from what Shorty created and was led by
another singer Tambu from the Charlie’s Roots orchestra. This soca
was tied to African American soul music while Shorty tried to
combine both African and Indian roots music. That was the beginning
of a new era for the steelband movement and the type of music that
was becoming available for the panorama competitions. On February
25, 2006 another era came to a close and in 2007 a new one will
begin. Is Pantrinbago ready for this new era?
Mr. Arnold, let me share with you some beautiful memories of the
first panorama held in the big yard. In 1963, my steelband City
Syncopators entered the first panorama competition as did all the
other steelbands. On panorama day into the night I saw on the
barber-green bands like City Symphony, Kintups, Casablanca,
Sundowners, North Stars, Desperadoes, Starland, City Kids, Sunland,
Renegades, Power Stars, Silver Stars, Sputniks, Starlift, Invaders,
Cavaliers, Sun Valley, Antillean All Stars, San Juan All Stars, and
Southern Symphony as they all were pushed by pan-pushers to the
grand stand to make history. Mr. Arnold, I got this info because I
was there but not from Pantrinbago. Do you see the problem Mr.
Arnold? Some of those steelbands no longer exist. Interestingly, the
first winner of the Panorama in 1963 was a steelband from the West
and the last Panorama winner in 2006 is also from the West. Synco
was not a band with any reputation like Invaders, North Stars or All
Stars. They did not have a tuner like Ellie Mannette or a soloist
like Eammanuel ‘Jack’ Riley (Invaders) (although they had Kelvin
Hart) or a bassman like Shoreland or Guns (All Stars) or an
innovator like Anthony Williams (North Stars) but they had heart.
Also, Synco had a reputation for playing the largest sailor mas, USS
Detroit. But, they all entered our magnificent national music
festival, few with sponsors and many without. On panorama night in
the cool breeze of 1963 North Stars won the competition. The north
stand was ecstatic and from that night the north stand became a
symbol of resistance for panjumbies who would venture to the big
yard for every panorama after that. That is why Rudolph Charles,
when he was captain of Desperadoes, told the band to always face the
north stand. Mr. Arnold, would we have a north stand for panjumbies
in the new carnival center?
Mr. Arnold, many of the steelbands who entered that first Panorama
in 1963 are not around today. But, many of the panists and
panjumbies are still around to tell the story. Mr. Arnold now is the
best time to put those stories in our library seeing that the
government decided to build a cultural carnival center for
activities at the grand stand in the Queen’s Park Savannah,
including the Panorama and a headquarters for Pantrinbago. We are
hoping that the steelband is not left out in this new carnival
cultural center. Does Pantrinbago have any plans for its new
headquarters to house a steelband library to tell the story of the
steelband movement? Who will tell the steelband story when we are
gone, Mr. Arnold. Our past traditions tell us that there will always
be a griot to tell the village stories. We continued that oral
tradition in the steelband movement. But, today we have another
technology that can greatly assist us to tell our story. It is
called the computer. It was invented for the steelpan. Now that
Pantrinbago claims to be the world’s governing body for the
steelband and Trinbago see itself as the Mecca of the steelband to
the international community they have to use the internet and begin
to record the history and artifacts of the steelband movement for
prosperity. As a result Mr. Arnold, it is incumbent on us to use
Pantrinbago’s web site to educate the world about the steelband
movement. We are now in the 21st century in the computer
age which permits Pantrinbago to use the internet for the benefit of
the steelband movement. If you need writers, then please Mr. Arnold,
say so. If you read the many pan sites you will see many capable
panjumbies doing their best to tell the story. But, I am afraid
Pantrinbago is not doing enough.
Mr. Arnold, let me first say that I know you are trying to do what
you perceive as your best for the steelband movement. Today, the
first prize for the Panorama is $400, 000.00. There is more money
for the other steelband programs that Pantrinbago puts on like Pan
in the 21st century, Pan down memory lane, Pan Jazz and
Champs in Concert. All of this was achieved under your leadership.
The steelbands seem to be pleased because when panists are not
pleased we hear from them. No word from Boogsie this year. But, why
can’t we have a national steelband library? Is it a difficult task
to maintain the Panorama and a steelband library together? What
plans do you have to place a steelband library in the new
Pantrinbago’s headquarters? Mr. Arnold, why isn’t our national music
and its artifacts housed in one place in a national steelband
library?
Mr. Arnold, what became of all the Panorama music from the early
Panoramas that was recorded and maybe still is housed at the Radio
Trinidad library? Most importantly, what about statistics about the
Panorama competitions from 1963 to 2006? We need to know the names
of all the panorama arrangers for all the panorama years. You can
put those statistics in our new Pantrinbago Steelbnand Library. Why
isn’t Pantrinbago web site carrying the steelband statistics from
1963 through 2006 documenting all the steelbands that have entered
the Panorama from its inception to 2006? Surely, one should be able
to go to Pantrinbago web site and find out the names of the
steelbands that entered 1968 or 1976 panorama. One should be able to
find out not only the steelbands but also the arrangers for each
steelband. Mr. Arnold you know how we like to argue over who is the
best arranger. Our steelband traditions demand that we have a
central place to house this information and that place should be
Pantrinbago’s web site. Yes, Pantrinbago publishes the first three
steelbands for every Panorama. But, that is not enough for our
national instrument. Pantrinbago can do more and publish information
for every steelband finalist. Personally, I would like to see all
the statistics of the panorama for every steelbands (1963-2006) on
Pantrinbago’s website. Why should we expect less for our national
instrument?
Mr. Arnold, you know how panjumbies like to compare steelband
statistics. You know too well our tradition of liming and talking
whole day about which steelband beat which and what year. And,
because there was no place of authority to get correct statistics
sometime fights used to break out over statistics. But, we pass that
stage. Now we live in a technology advanced and globalised world
where the computer reigns supreme. Why can’t Pantrinbago have a
virtual steelband library where the world can go to for information
regarding the national instrument? If you need help dear Mr.
President why don’t Pantrinbago send out an international call for
help from panjumbies who have skills to offer to make the steelband
library a reality? There are steelband chat rooms all over the web
where panjumbies discuss the steelband movement. But, Pantrinbago,
as the world’s only governing body for the steelband movement, must
have all the information about our national instrument on its web
site. An example is since the death of Master Clive Bradley I have
been trying to get the names of all the steelbands for whom he
arranged. Mr. Arnold I can’t find such information on Pantrinbago’s
web site. Why Mr. Arnold? Does Pantrinbago need help to do this? If
so, let the panjumbies know what Pantrinbago’s needs. We want you to
succeed. I want Pantrinbago to be the supreme site where anyone can
go and get all the information about any steelband.
Surely, Mr. Arnold you remember how Pantrinbago was able to put the
2005 music festival together in a three month period when plans for
hold the festival in London fell through. I congratulate you for
that because no one expected Pantrinbago to pull it off in so short
a time period. Mr. Arnold, you will not live forever so you must
build for the future when your time to leave Pantrinbago arrives. We
are now in the 21st century and the way of doing some
things must change. The latest dispute with Desperadoes and Master
Bradley’s family about putting master Bradley’s arrangements on a CD
should give you cause to intervene and assist the steelband. Mr.
Arnold, you have to bring the steelband movement into the 21st
century. The old ways of doing things are hurting the movement.
Otherwise, the steelband movement will become an albatross on the
necks of panists and steelbands as it remains static. I often say
that the internet was created for the steelband movement because it
is so easy now to store information. Everyday there are pan sites
opening that try to explain our instrument and I applaud them for
trying because everyone loves the pan. But, Mr. Arnold it is
Pantrinbago’s job as the sole governing body and representative for
the steelbands to be miles ahead of others when it comes to
providing information about our national instrument.
Lastly, Mr. Arnold, in 1991 Mr. George Goddard (past president of
the then Steelband Association) published a book called “Forty Years
in the Steelbands” where he outlined his experiences as president of
the Association. I read the book and found it to be very useful
history about the steelband movement. Mr. Arnold, why doesn’t
Pantrinbago sell or promote this book (the only one published by a
Steelband president) or mention it on its web site? Please Mr.
Arnold, speak up wherever you are.
Stay Blogged. |
Categories
