Bringing Mozart to the streets

THE EDITOR: Trinidad and Tobago owes a great deal more than we know to pan. Not only is the instrument among the wonders of the world, except here in TT, but many Trinbagonians owe their refined taste for music to the steelband. Classical music was only for the privileged few. Pan brought Beethoven, List, Mozart et al to the streets and concert halls of the nation.

For example, the average person only knew about “Voices of Spring” because of North Stars and “Gypsy Rondo” because of Highlanders. Even ordinary pop music was made more popular by steelbands. Many people did not have radios in the early years, not even a rediffusion box, so pan brought songs like “Back in my Arms,” “With a Song in my Heart” and “Desert Song” to their ears. The music was almost always very accurate and these men could not even read a note, so do not knock pan. Many who would not have found work otherwise gained their livelihood here and abroad through pan. Many of us might not have seen another country but for pan: it is all over the world today. It is taught in schools because it is on the syllabus, again, except in Trinidad and Tobago. “A prophet,” as it is written, “is not without honour, save in his own country and among his own kindred.”

SHERMAN FYFE
Port-of-Spain