LOCAL T&T STEELBAND NEWS

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May 2000
eEd - tobagojo@trinidad.net

 Select team of local pannists to record Test Piece for Orchestras

© NEWSDAY - Wednesday 24th May , 2000 - SECTION 2, Page 5
By SEAN NERO

AN ELITE team of 25 pannists, who will not be participating in this year’s World Steelband Music Festival 2000 competition, is to be assembled under the direction of musician Paul Campbell to adapt the Test Piece for participating orchestras.

   The title of the Test Piece, composed by local composer Rudy Wells, is Dawn of the Millennium.

   So said vice-president of Pan Trinbago Keith Byer, who is also one of two events’ co-ordinators on the Cabinet appointed committee for the festival.

   This means that once again competing pan orchestras, will be required to perform three musical selections: the Test Piece, the Classical tune of choice and the Calypso of choice.

   However, the Test Piece is only required to be performed in the qualifying round of the contest.

   Byer explained "As it stands now, only the Test Piece for the orchestra class of the competition will be performed by the select group of pannists."
   "As we see it right now, it is better if the persons learning this piece of music for the purpose of recording it as a guide for competing orchestras, not be attached to any orchestra contesting the festival title, as it may warrant the band they perform in with an unfair advantage."

   The test for the ensembles - Mein Freund; quartets - Shado’ Beni; and duets - Mi Diese as it stands now, will be interpreted by Alvin Daniel on keyboard, chairman of the World Festival Committee .

   Byer noted this could change later on, but for now that is how the other musical selections will be treated.

   Last weekend [20th & 21st May], some 14 orchestras numbering 700 musicians, from eight European countries, performed at the Parc de la Villette, in Paris France, in the hope of securing one of three places up for grabs, qualifying them for the world final in Trinidad in October [10th to the 21st] this year.

   A four-man team comprising; Alvin Daniel chairman of the Cabinet appointed committee charged with producing the festival; special advisor Arnim Smith; secretary Jackie McKel and reporter Terry Joseph visited France last Thursday [18th May] to observe the unfolding events. President of Pan Trinbago, who is affected by extensive flying, declined the opportunity to go on the European jaunt.
   [ Back to: Resignation of Daniell ]

   In addition, a team of adjudicators including Trinidadian Dr Ann-Marion Osborne, Dr Eugene Novotney from California and Richard Murphy hailing from London - both of whom served on previous adjudication panels - listened to the musical offerings for the contestants who reportedly performed mainly their own compositions.

   Following the selection of these three European orchestras, the next step will be to review video-taped performances from North American contestants from which another three bands will be selected.

   Along with the ten local qualifying bands, grouped with those from Europe and North America, an additional eight are expected to come from within the Caribbean region.

   They will all converge at the Jean Pierre Complex, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain from October for the 12 day event.

© 2000: tobagojo@trinidad.net - 20000703 Last Update: 12 July 2000 00:00:00 Processed by: Jeremy G de Barry

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