Pan Trinbago eyes record books in 2013

And the city with the world record for the greatest number of pan players in the same place playing the same song is? (Steel) drum roll … London! The record was set on September 8 by 1,000 musicians playing Ary Baroso’s Aquerela do Brasil under the London Eye at the city’s South Bank during an event entitled One Thousand Pans. The record isn’t expected to last long though, as Pan Trinbago already has its eyes set on a record way in excess of the London exercise by this time next year. Pan Trinbago President, Keith Diaz, said plans had already been in train to set a world-beating mark in 2013 with support from the Ministry of Tourism. “We knew about this and we welcome it (the London record),” Diaz told T&T Guardian. “Because it highlights pan.” At last Sunday’s Steelband Festival of Trinidad and Tobago (Steel Festt) 15 steelbands delivered a simultaneous rendition of the Mighty Sniper’s Portrait of Trinidad.

 

 

Close to 350 players still fell short of the London record, but Diaz said the London record will not be that hard to beat next year. He has not yet worked out most of the logistics, but knows that between 25 and 30 bands will be involved—something that will require a substantial financial outlay from the State. Several UK-based Caribbean pan promoters and players were involved in the London record. Notthingham-based mas’ producer, Glenn Charles, said a more conscious effort is being made to promote use of the steelpan at UK carnivals. For the past three years, for example, he has stuck exclusively to London steelbands to provide music for his “UK Trini and Friends” portrayals at Notthingham and Stapleford carnivals which come off in August and September annually. “Before you used to hear mainly reggae at these events,” he said. “Now they hear this wonderful instrument (the pan).” Next year, he is hoping to also boast that the land of the instrument’s birth also holds an important world record. For now, his adopted country has the honour.