History of Steelpan & BAS
The steelpan instrument was born out of a poor nation, oppressed by European plantation owners who ruled Trinidad & Tobago at that time. No one is sure who invented the first steelpan note and research is still be carried out by Pan Trinbago, the world governing body of steelpan, to try and establish the facts. However, there is general agreement that the instrument first emerged in an organised form in the late 1930s.
Over the years, all the relevant sections of a conventional orchestra have been associated with the different types of steelpan instruments – Tenor, Cello, Guitar, Bass and so on. The steelpan was found to be a very effective and expressive instrument as it allowed more subtle and complex harmonies to be created. As technical improved and became more refined, cleaner and sharper notes were created from forty five gallon steel oil drums discarded by the oil companies. Today, drums are made specifically by leading companies at great cost.
In the early days, ‘pan' was the main ingredient of Carnival and each steelband had a Mas band attached to it. There were bands all over Trinidad and great rivalry existed. In the past being a panman was considered a ‘badman' thing. Today, it is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and most people want to be associated with it. It is some much a part of Caribbean life that scholarships to the USA or Canada are awarded from playing steelband music.
By the 1950s there were over 80 steelbands in Trinidad , which produced some of the greatest pannists and tuners, some of whom are still working and performing today. In 1951 Edric Connor arranged for the Trinidad All Stars Percussion Orchestra (TAPSO) to be the first steelband to travel to Britain to take part in the Festival of Britain at the newly opened South Bank Complex. There were twelve pannists selected from over 70 steelbands across Trinidad . The group, conducted by Lieutenant Joseph Griffith, made its debut on 26 July 1951 . Within a few years, steelpan music started to grow in the UK Pan is a Jumbie (spirit) and although the pioneers of pan in the UK were doing other jobs, steelpan music was also the first love and their destiny. In 1961, the College Boys Band “Dixieland” came to England to perform over the Whitsun Bank Holiday. They created history as the only steelband ever to win all four sections of the music festival, Zone Final, Quarter Final, Semi Final and Final. Most of those musicians are still playing pan in England and around Europe .
The first steelband to participate in the Notting Hill Carnival was the Russ Henderson steelband followed by Nostalgia Steel Orchestra. By 1969 there were more bands starting to emerge and that same year Islington Green School started the first steelband under the guidance and teaching of Gerald Forsyth. That paved the way for a number of Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) schools to start up steelpan classes in schools and by 1975 there were over 50 schools with steelbands.
In 1978 Gerald Forsyth was appointed steelband organiser for schools, with an office in GLC headquarters. By 1990 Gerald had over 160 schools with steelpan as part of their curriculum. The size, importance and significance of his achievement are apparent when compared to Trinidad , the birthplace of steelpan, where steelpan is not yet considered to be a subject in schools.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw a huge increase in the number of steelbands in London , many of the bands have continued to flourish and grow: Ebony, Metronomes, London All Starts and Lambeth Youth (now Southside Harmonics). One of the youngest bands around is Eclipse, formed in the late 1980s.
The first ever Panorama competition in London was held in 1978 and was won by Paddington Youth led by Zack Herbert. Glissando Steel Orchestra, managed by Bertrand Parris and under the musical directorship of Pedro Burgess, were leaders in the Steelband Music Festival, an event organised by the GLC in conjunction with the London Brotherhood of Steel. Glissando dominated the competition for its first three years – 1981, 1982 and 1983. Bands continue the tradition of steelpan music in England and have developed a music pride. Every year pannists look forward to Carnival and, in particular, to the National Panorama competition. It keeps steelbands together and has led to the birth of many more.
The British Association of Steelbands (BAS) was established in December 1995 to represent British steelbands and to further the musical, artistic, educational and social aspects of this art. The organization is funded by Arts Council of England and their annual program of events now include Pan Explosion (a competition to encourage the youth in composing, arranging and playing steelpan music), Pan in Leicester Square, Pan in the Parks, Trafalgar Square Pan Jamboree, Pan in the V &A Museum, National Panorama competition, Pan on the Road for Notting Hill Carnival and their end of year Steelpan Awards Dinner. Pan Podium, the official magazine of the British Association of Steelbands, is also another positive venture that was launched in 1999 to highlight the hard work performed by steelbands, pan musicians and related peripherals. It is published bi-annually and is circulated in Europe , the United Kingdom , USA , and as far as Japan . Pan Podium's website, www.panpodium.com, was launched in May 2001 thus enabling the Association to reach the wider public. The organization
• is run by an elected Management Committee. Membership is open to all steelbands in Britain , to individual members and other interested parties
• assists with the provision of training in arranging, playing/performing, management, administration, marketing, publicity and fund-raising
• provides information on all aspects of steelbands and steelpans
• promotes the history, culture and music of this art
• organises concerts, festivals, productions, shows, etc.
• acts as a booking agency
BAS continues to work with its partner organisations and all interested parties to promote the steel pan art form thus ensuring that this wonderful 20th century acoustic instrument is attributed the respect it deserves and attains its rightful podium.