CALYPSO HISTORY MONTH # 16 Steelband Time Just when the Growling Tiger was putting his illustrious name on the Calypso King trophy of 1939, Adolph Hitler invaded Poland and effectively started the Second World War. Carnival, and by extension the calypso, took a back seat but the steel pan, already in its embryonic stage since tamboo bamboo gave way to dustbins and metal pans and cans some years earlier, emerged. Now the darling of all world instruments, pan came down the birth canal and cried out for life. No prouder moment in the history of world music has there ever been. Alexander Ragtime Band and Hell Yard took the lead and the steelband was born. By 1940 legend has it that the Roaring Lion would record the first calypso, “Lion Oh”, with steelband as the accompanying music. youtu.be/hvsV7iJ2YZs By the end of the war in 1945 a few calypsos would openly welcome this magical instrument. Here is pans greatest kaiso spokesman Aldwyn Roberts paying tribute to those pan pioneers and praising the power of the music. Beat Of The Steelband - Kitchener Well I heard the beat of the steelband Boys I couldn’t understand It was hard to make a distinction Between Poland, Bar Twenty and John John. Pung Pang ba duba do bang Pung Pang ba duba do bang Port of Spain nearly catch afire When the band was crossing the Dry River Zigelee, leader of the Ping Pong Had people jumping wild in the town. Black James, Fish Eye and Barker Bar Twenty leading kettle-beater I jump until I couldn’t jump again Was sweeter than George Smith from Edwin Payne. Bitter-Man, Pops and Battersby Chip in with a semitone melody When they start their contrary beat White people jumping wild in the street. Well the boom was beaten by Ossie A former boomer from Bar Twenty The vibration near break down a wall An American say, “Joe, don’t stop at all”. Chamberlain had me going crazy I thought we was still fighting Germany When the man blow the bugle call I said “Well, like the war ain’t finish at all!” Here would begin the long and lasting love affair between the pan and the kaiso. youtu.be/OZYAuQEsOis But the War also brought the presence of the American soldier, the GI, the much heralded Yankee to Chagaramas. Next: Yankee Go Home
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 10:35:37 +0000
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