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Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

Leon Kuma Rodney has challenged bandsAntigua St. John's - Former president of the steel band association Leon Kuma Rodney has challenged bands to do more to break the apparent domination of the Panorama competition by LIME Hell's Gate and Digicel Halcyon Steel.

The call was issued on the heels of Thursday night's competition, which saw Hell's Gate and Halcyon Steel copping the first and second place spots respectively.
 
"They need to step up to the plate to break the seeming Halcyon and Hell's Gate grip," Rodney said of the other competitors.
 
Hell's Gate - established 67 years ago - has now won national steel band competitions 16 times since 1949, while Halcyon Steel Orchestra has copped the title a minimum of 11 times since 1975.
 
Four other bands failed in their bid to dethrone Hell's Gate - Caribseas Harmonites (second runner-up), Dennis Restaurant East Vibes, WIOC Gemonites, and Cool & Smooth Ebonites.
 
Spokesperson for the champion band, Stafford Joseph, said the orchestra has maintained success by staying true to its roots.
 
"Hell's Gate has held on to that practice of utilising its resources to the benefit of the community, and our children. When it comes to our national Panorama we should seek to get the involvement of our local youths, which in my opinion, would definitely see an improvement and growth in pan," Joseph said.
 
The winning piece was played by a team of 110 players, 80 per cent of whom are under the age of 20.
 



In Kuma Rodney's estimation, Hell's Gate deserved the win based on its performance and execution of King Short Shirt's 'j'ouvert rhythm' arranged by Khan Cordice.
 
On the flip side, he said, Halcyon Steel Orchestra did not perform at its best.
 
"I felt that Halcyon was just a little tentative. I've heard better rehearsals from them than what they played on Panorama night," Rodney pointed out.
 
"The music for most of the bands wasn't bad but most keep making the same mistakes."
 
The lead-up to the pan showdown at Carnival City was overshadowed by the historic and contentious decision by carnival organisers to belatedly declare Hell's Gate and Halcyon Steel as the 2011 Panorama winners.
 
Rodney said this appeared to have boosted attendance at this year's competition.
 
"It's obvious that the controversy from last year brought out a couple more people to the Panorama so even though it may appear negative at the time, I think it has shown that there are positives," he said.
 
The number of patrons attending this year's show is not yet known; however, figures from the National Festivals Office indicate that in 2011 there were just over 980 paying patrons.

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19 Comments In This Article   

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tega

#19 Miss Pan Fanatic » 2012-08-19 16:56

them dead or as we say went into non-existence since 1960's
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Miss Pan Fanatic

Local manufacture

#18 Miss Pan Fanatic » 2012-08-19 16:50

Jumbee picknee. Everything in Hell's Gate is Local except the croming of the pans and the cases to protect the pans. Pans were made by our own; stands, sticks, rubbers, tuning, arranging, members, all made local. I urge other steelband members stive to be more involve in the artform of the Steel pan. Not only to play, but to learn how to build, tune, learn music theory, establish school of pan, learn to arrange by having inhouse competitions. Use our own resources for the Panorama competitions mainly our locals.
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Miss Pan Fanatic

music

#17 tiga » 2012-08-11 18:10

tell me how we do not have any band in the rural areas the same bands all the time
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tiga

RE: Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

#16 pan is not dead » 2012-08-08 11:16

I guess those commenting on the lack of pan in schools do not live in Antigua. During the independence celebrations, there is a schools panorama competition where the skills on display can rival most of the entrants in panorama this year. Every year the numbers both in the primary and secondary segments increase. The crowd is on par with regular panorama. Last year there were over 300 young people playing pan that night.

On another note, did you see the number of children/teens playing pan this panorama? I can speak for hellsgate - the arranger is 22, the drummers, 16 and 17. Over 80% of the players under 18 and the majority the persons involved in the various aspects of preparation for panorama are in their 20's

PAN IS ALIVE AND WELL!!!
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pan is not dead

RE: Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

#15 Maallum » 2012-08-06 10:39

............Kee p on keeping on Sunny Side Tutorial/East Vibes......they are all between the ages of 6 and 16............. ......BTW Sunny Side has an active pan program........ .............Al l respect to Curtis Cochran........ .....
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Maallum

weh de man wid de hamma gone....III

#14 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-06 08:50

The Steelpan Industry should ACT LOCALLY but THINK GLOBALLY. Business is global.
Questions:
1...What if all our hotels were on patronized by 'locals, could that Industry survive?
2...The drums that makes the pans are they manufactured 'locally?'
3...The rubber, the sponge, the uniform materials, all necessities of the pan Orchestra, are they manufactured 'locally?'
4...If only locals bought CD's, Video Productions, etc, can the Orchestra make a profit?
Just a few ???????, so please read between the lines, as you ACT LOCALLY, but THINK GLOBALLY. Economics is global, not 'local.'
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Jumbee Picknee

RE: Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

#13 JESSE JAMES » 2012-08-06 01:22

Now Mr Rodney I can only speak for Hell's Gate Steel Orchestra of which I support and am invariably apart of. The term LOCAL is what motivates this band and what drives this band to success. Should you dare **s the other bands, including Halcyon, forgive me "Babu", you would conjure up the notion that there is a heavy insertion of overseas, professional talent from Arrangers, Drillers, Players etc. With that in mind Mr. Rodney may I say to you that, Hell's Gate Steel Orchestra, this SMALL ISLAND BAND, comprised of 6 - 20 year old players, will continue to strive to beat the BEST in the WORLD
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JESSE JAMES

Need to change our mentality of educating pan in Antigua

#12 Miss pan fanatic » 2012-08-06 00:32

If we kickout biasness in the Steelband Association, If we learn to ask for assistance from our locals in Antigua, such as: learn to build our own pans, learn music theory, learn to use our own local resources, teach the youths of the pan culture in a positive way and not the negative history of who play the first music on pan or who was the best; Live by the motto "EACH ONE, TEACH ONE" and SHOWN KNOWLEDGE IS KNOWLEDGE GAINED.
Then we will see the growth of pan in all the steelband groups in Antigua and Barbuda. In order to make a start we need to Clean up the mentality of the Steelband Association and work together to fight for what is urgently needed. We need an active All year round Steelband Association.
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Miss pan fanatic

@ avid reader

#11 college student » 2012-08-05 16:30

when i was a student at the greenbay primary school the post primary class would go up to halcyon pan yard and pratice pan from 1;30 to 3.00 every friday and we we would even go sherlies heights on sundays to play out with the bigger boys ...that was part of the activities but unfortunately they stop it now.
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college student

@ Avid Reader

#10 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-05 03:07

Your points are well taken. On the assertion of our History, until WE fully accept the fact that OUR ROOTS of Alkebulan/Afric an Ancestors carries more clout than the Eurppean/Indian roots, we will continue to struggle with UNIFICATION
As to the education of young minds, we know what a royal screw up Gov'ts are, this is why Private Institutions are far more superior at it. So, yes the education is paramount to enhance the pan, and just like in the business world, private corporations take those educated minds, allow them to grow, mature, become productive, pan organizations have to use this template. Where I see Gov't in the equation, of course in the schools that they manage, the pan MUST be part of the curriculum, their other role is to create & develop the ground for the industry to thrive. Incentives, tax breaks, etc., the same way they do for the Tourism industry. We have to enhance the business side from manufacturing to marketing, and from our Gov'ts track record,
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Jumbee Picknee

Hail Pan Champions

#9 Daughter of Klaas » 2012-08-04 22:02

Yes! Hell's Gate, you have made it pellucid that you are truly in a class by yourself and despite what actual scores may reveal this year, you dominated the competition and forced that group that tried to occupy the winner's circle to recognize your superiority. I was also amused by the irony of it all, that LIME Hell's Gate resoundingly beat DIGICEL Halcyon. When will DIGICEL stop backing losers?
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Daughter of Klaas

@ JUMBEE PICKNEY

#8 Avid Reader » 2012-08-04 20:55

At least three of those cases have been thrown out already by the courts, the most important one is the way of creating the pan easier and faster. What would take a long time to craft now can be done in hours, that was one of those patents.

The problem I have is TNT, what became the pan comes out of slavery, it was around in some form in the 19th century. The rest of the Caribbean really need to assert themselves about their history, because as it stands, what our forefathers brought with them no other island had anything to do with except Trinidad. Totally foolish and conceited, TNT deserves to be spending that money, no sympathy here.

What we need is actual programs in the schools for pan, we cannot depend on the actual pan organizations to do it. That is the responsibility of the gov.
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Avid Reader

@Avid Reader

#7 Dig It » 2012-08-04 13:15

Avid Reader, I agree that with you that we the Pan in the schools! I used to play in the Schools Competition at Carnival years ago, and, was very upset, when we took out that segment out of the competition! We need our youths involved in the steelpan as much as possible, and, should put more "resources" in the development at the school level. And, as we have seen with our steelbands like Hells Gate, the youths are participating at high rates, so, it is not like if they are not interested! I agree with Kuma that the other bands need to "step up" to Hells Gate and Halcyon! Yet, I will say that most of the others bands don't have the type of resources or sponsorship like the two leading steelbands! Of course, this doesn't take away the fact that both steelbands have very great arrangers to contend with! I am a "pan-lover" and will always want to see it "survive!"
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Dig It

@ Avid Reader

#6 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-04 11:32

We are not on the verge of losing it. WE HAVE LOST the patten and intellectual rights to its invention. The Trinidad & Tobago Government have spent millions in courts from Europe to America in order that they MAY, and I say may be allowed totals rights and priviledges to the invention of the pan.
We will only miss the water when the well runs dry.
If the Courts wasn't so sympathetic, even we in Antigua could be held liable for manufacturing the 'pan' without proper authorization, and that hammer/gavel carries more weight than the one use to make the pan even though physically lighter...
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Jumbee Picknee

RE: Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

#5 Avid Reader » 2012-08-04 10:50

PAa needs to be in the schools if it is to survive. I went to an event in Virginia Beach and I was shocked at the school steelbands that were there. The majority of them were not from black schools, these kids picked up what is ours and we are on the verge of losing it. Terrible.
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Avid Reader

weh de man wid de hamma gone....II

#4 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-04 10:31

Scratch, and fling it again...there is such a thing as "oldies but goodies", leave the skin-out, ram, jam-jam it in down town; just gee we de pan, so we can rock-n-dance, as de rythmn put we in a chance, no need fu pull out de lance, to turn she on to get some romance, just a chip, chip an ole time cool-n-crucial dance, so pan man tek de chance, fu den you could really advance, boom-bam, weh de man wid de hamma gone?
In addition, on the said route, it MUST BE LINED WITH OTHER FORMS OF OUR ART FORMS, weavers, painters, fashion designers, sculptures, pan makers, any and all art forms, banjo & fife, performing artist, make it an entire family affair, a wholesome Emancipation, that even Pastor Hensworth could attend. No mini or pum-pa-nanny shorts.... :sigh:
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Jumbee Picknee

weh de man wid de hamma gone....II

#3 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-04 10:12

There is such a thing as "Oldies but Goodies," leave the skin-out, jam-it-in with the jam bands and hi-fi's down town; just gee we de pan, de
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Jumbee Picknee

weh de man wid de hamma gone....I

#2 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-04 10:08

This artform, which WE in the Caribbean can claim 110%, the 10% is profits to be shared by stockholders, of the only musical instrument to be officially recognized as the only new musical instrument to be invented in the world.
Yet, the wider Caribbean Region does not respect it as such.
A...why in Antigua only St. Johns has organized orchestras? Where are St. Pauls, St. Peters, etc?
B...due to lack of gov't involvement, THEY, the Orchestras should consider AN EMPLOYEE OWNED ENTITY. I know efforts have been made, the going is rough & tough, but we are tough, lets keep going.
C...As Papi said, seperate the pan from the hi-fi at J'ouvert and last lap. Expand the festivities...P an Route - Rec. Grounds east on Factory Rd - North on American Rd - Left on Old Parham Rd - to Rec. Grounds...REPEA T the coure...am asking, weh de man wid de hamma gone?
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Jumbee Picknee

RE: Steel Bands Challenged to Step Up

#1 SQUALL Edwards » 2012-08-04 07:40

I thought Hells Gate played "Jouvert Jam" by The Monarch. Seems like the interest in Pan has dropped from what Kuma is saying. I remember the days of Super Stars, Harmonites etc, the used to all have over 100 players. Attendance at the RG in those days was tremendous. Hells Gate seemed to have moved far ahead of the other bands. Harmonites is my band and will always be but, as Kuma says, they have to step up and bring back the glory days.
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SQUALL Edwards

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