A Letter From The Editor of PAN Magazine
Dear Steelpan Community,
The current global crisis caused by COVID-19, and the current state of civil unrest, are resulting in a state of uncertainty and fear. I’m no prophet, but I am a writer who’s had the privilege and honor to write about one of the most important topics in the world: the steelpan. To the average person, this instrument is merely a piece of metal, crafted to create beautiful harmonic tones in the world of music. To me and many others in the steelpan community, pan is a symbol of hope. It represents the downtrodden, having come from a background of desperation, criminality and hardship.
Look Back
In the worst of times, pioneers like Ellie Mannette, Winston “Spree” Simon, Cliff Alexis and Tony Williams, among others, worked against the wishes of their families and society to take leftover oil barrels and craft them into one of the most incredible instruments for music, and hope, the world has ever seen. They never gave up. They kept fighting and adapting until the instrument was accepted and became a national and global symbol of hope, ingenuity and triumph.
The featured image in this post is of my high school steelband during a concert tour of Northern California in 1998. Playing in this band first exposed me to the power of a steelband, from the exposure to multiple musical genres to taking trips like this. The beauty of steelpan is that it brings people together from diverse backgrounds, ideologies and ethnicities. Pan is about unity, love and music.
Look Ahead
So, in this time of uncertainty, I call for everyone reading this to take a deep breath and put on your favorite steelpan album. Remember what drew you to this instrument in the first place. For me, it’s hanging with friends and listening to some classic Panorama like the 1997 championship arrangement of “Guitar Pan”, performed by the Amoco Renegades and arranged by the Jit Samaroo.
Much like the inventors and innovators of the steelpan, we must remember that the night is darkest just before the dawn. The sun will rise again and when it does, our smiles will be brighter, our meals more delicious and our music that much sweeter. I look forward to that day. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy and beat pan.
Sincerely,
Ted Goslin
Editor and Publisher
PAN Magazine
