BOLD CHANGES IN THE PANORAMA PRODUCT FOR 2004

AFTER 40 years of Panorama, with its perennial problems of excess performers, irritating intervals between performances, dwindling audiences and negative pronouncements from the public of the inordinate length of the show, it was clear that some decisive decisions had to be taken to improve the product.

President of Pan Trinbago, Patrick Arnold, expressed these sentiments, when he announced that for 2004 the organisation had implemented the bold step of categorising participating bands into small, medium and large orchestras. “This was done after careful analysis of the data with respect to the number of players performing in individual bands over the 1997-2003 period,” he said. “The categorising of the bands will result in the emergence of three champion bands in the conventional class that will all enjoy the acclaim that goes with winning and achievement.” In addition, the playing time allowed bands has been reduced from 10 to 8 minutes, and the organisation intends to put greater pressure on orchestras to complete their stage set up quickly.

Over the 40 years of Panorama both the amount of participating bands and number of players have grown tremendously. From a mere 21 bands appearing in 1963, last year’s count showed more than 60 conventional orchestras had participated in the contest. According to the new rules: “Large conventional  steelbands will not be permitted to participate with less than 95 players or with more than 120 players. Medium conventional steelbands will not be permitted to participate with less than 60 players or with more than 90 players, and small conventional steelbands will not be permitted to participate with less than 35 players or with more than 55 players. Single pan bands will not be permitted to participate with less than 25 or with more than 45 players.” Secretary of Pan Trinbago, Richard Forteau, pointed out, however, that the organisation will not debar any steelband from participating in the Panorama competition if it did not have the minimum number of players. “This is the first year that the rules will be implemented, so we are sensitive to the fact that some bands, particularly the smaller bands, may find it hard to recruit a full complement of players,” he said. “We are not so heartless as to prevent a band from taking part in the competition if its numbers fall short of the minimum requirement. However, bands are warned that under no circumstances will they be allowed to perform with more than the alloted requirement.”

Traditionalists in the steelband fraternity, though, may see the reduction in performance time from 10 to 8 minutes as robbing the better arrangers of a chance to display their creative talent. But one arranger, who asked not to be named, agrees wholeheartedly with the new rule. “Ten minutes was not really too long,” he said, “but eight minutes is better. Many times an arranger had to pad the song with gimmicks to stretch it. Hopefully, now that two minutes have been taken off, the music will be tighter and creativity will emerge.” Pelham Goddard, respected arranger/musician, and current arranger for National Panorama champion Exodus Steel Orchestra, believes that the new rule means that an arrangement will have to “peak earlier.”

Exodus is going to Panorama playing a composition of The Original De Fosto Himself (Winston Scarborough) titled “War 2004,” and up to last week Goddard had completed six minutes of the arrangement. “Fortunately for me, I do most of the music on my computer at home, which I print out and bring to the panyard,” he explained. “From there it’s pretty plain sailing, as the section leaders give them out to the players to rehearse.” This year’s 41st edition of Panorama, said Arnold, will see continuation of progressive changes, all in the interest of improving and enhancing the quality of the show, from the perspective of the bands themselves, as well as the paying public. Panyard judging of the preliminary round of this year’s competition begins on Monday, February 2 for conventional bands, and Tuesday, February 3 for single pan bands.