The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a group of islands located in the Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela.
Steel Bands
In the many years since the steel pan was invented in Trinidad, it has become a symbol of politics, religion, and class-struggle. Every year, just before Carnival, the entire country locks in on the widely popular national pan competition known as Panorama. The top steel bands swell to 100 or more players beating close to 300 pans, and heavyweight composer-arrangers like Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Ray Holman, and Clive Bradley create ten-minute musical extravaganzas for the occasion.
The thundering, percussive, polyrhythmic roar of these huge bands – each with its pounding bass pans and jazzy melodies moving from section to section – is so exciting it can make you weak in the knees. It’s also almost impossible to record.
In live performance, human ears can decode the subtleties of the music, thanks to the spatial spread and depth of a big steel orchestra. And to make the experience even more exhilarating, many panyard listeners actually walk inside the band, finding space to stand between the sections. Unless you’ve personally plunged into the center of a steel band in full flight, you have never heard the music the way it really sounds. (source: Andy Narell)
Trinidadian and Tobagan Musical Genres
Calypso is a traditional musical genre from Trinidad and Tobago that is frequently improvised, with clever and satirical lyrics. The bands consist of drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and horns.
Soca – A pop style that combines soul and calypso. Mighty Sparrow is one of its most famous performers.
Trinidadian and Tobagan Musicians
Calypso Rose
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
Ellie Mannette (obituary)
Jason Roseman
Len Boogsie Sharpe
Mighty Sparrow
The Renegades
Tony Guppy
