Guest Post by Mia Gormandy
In 2013 I came across a Ted Talk presented by Eric Whitacre who discussed his Virtual Choir, an online phenomenon that featured many singers from around the world. Eric Whitacre composed a piece for choir, made the scores available online, and provided a video of himself conducting to silence. Using the conducting video as a guide, singers from all over the world video recorded themselves singing Whitacre’s piece. The videos were then compiled and aligned to form the Virtual Choir. I was amazed to see the number of singers who participated from around the world and was intrigued with the global concept surrounding this project. I immediately thought about the possibility of creating a Virtual Steelband. I shared the idea with my colleagues Yuko Asada, Scott McConnell, and Abe Breiling, all past members of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) steelpan program. Together we formed the Virtual Steelband Committee with intentions of creating the world’s first Virtual Steelband. After spending more than a year preparing for the launch by raising funds for the project, commissioning Liam Teague to compose the music, and advertising to pannists around the world, we were able to produce the first Virtual Steelband Video, which featured 135 pannists from 9 different countries.
After the launch of the first Virtual Steelband, Yuko, Scott, and I decided that we wanted to produce a second one. Following the concept of our first fundraiser, we ultimately had to launch a second one through Kickstarter so we can afford the fees associated with Virtual Steelband II. The Kickstarter (fundraiser) will run through October 24th, 2016. We also liked our initial idea of commissioning music and decided to stick with that concept. After some brainstorming, we asked Mark Loquan to compose the piece since he participated in the first Virtual Steelband and was already familiar with the concept of the project. We then asked Amrit Samaroo to arrange it for the Virtual Steelband. I contacted Mark who seemed very interested in the idea. He proposed composing a piece that will have a dual function - the Virtual Steelband and Panorama 2017. After several conversations between Mark, Amrit, and the Virtual Steelband Committee, we were all proud to have heard the final version of Pan Kingdom, which was composed by Mark Loquan, sung by Anslem Douglas, and produced by Junior "Ibo" Joseph. Of special importance are the lyrics written by Gregory “GB” Ballantyne, which emphasized the magnet of the steelpan that attracts people from around the world. Along with the vocal version came the pan version, which I recorded while conducting steelpan research in Japan. As a result, not only is the piece globally themed, but ironically the creation of it was also internationally based. The global theme was perfect for the Virtual Steelband and in my mind, perfect for birdsong’s selection for Panorama 2017.
birdsong, a Trinidadian Steelband and academy, has had a long history of steelpan excellence and a special interest in steelpan education over the years. For Panorama each year, birdsong hosts an international program where steelpannists from around the world not only get an opportunity to perform on the Panorama stage, but also learn more about the steelpan and Trinidad and Tobago through master classes and clinics produced by birdsong.
As the new Panorama arranger, Pan Kingdom was my first choice because it perfectly describes the unique culture birdsong provides for locals and internationals alike. birdsong has indeed become an environment to foster the strong magnetism of the steelpan and generate global unity. In a world full of enmity, border wars, and refugees. “Pan Kingdom” brilliantly merges the global concept of the Virtual Steelband with our local, yet internationally driven, Panorama competition.
Credits
Pan Kingdom - Lyrics
Verse 1
There is a magnet in the Steelpan
Resonates in all lands
But when it holds
On to yuh soul
Then you will understand
De hammer that tunes a drum
Does inject a special rhythm
And when a pannist plays
De vibration does raise
Leaving players and listeners amazed
CHORUS (Part A)
Steelband does call them together
From every region and culture
The sound of the oil drum, is the magical key
From Australia and New Zealand
U.S.A., London and Japan
Dey syncopating
Dey orchestrating
With speed and innovation
The sheer magnet of this thing called Pan
(Part B)
Is sweet pan dey come to feel
To answer the call of steel
Their passion they can’t conceal
Panorama seals the deal
Win or lose………….they come
Why dey choose…………….oil drum ?
(Dey) can’t resist de pan kingdom
Verse 2
Other instruments their notes run
Left-to-right and straight on
Piano
Or Piccolo
Even Accordion
Only instrument in the World
Have the notes arranged in a swirl
It is our special pan
Dat circular pattern
Like a flower, is magnetismBRIDGE
[Pan does make dem high
No-one can deny
When pan music plays, yuh in a daze
Yuh so amazed, yuh feel yuh want to fly
When de Grand Stand roar
And de crowd want more
Ya could puff yuh chest, ya did yuh best
Ya pass de test, (in) winners row for sure] REPEATVerse 3
In a World full of enmity
Border wars, Refugees
Our pan
Leads the stand
For global unity
From tenor-player to bass
We accept any creed and race
Come one and come all
When sticks and rubber fall
Like United Nations protocol
