SANDRA L BLOOD
The President of the World Steelpan Thrust of Trinidad and Tobago (WSTTT), Bertel Gittens Jr, believes that children; people in general, more so pannists, should be astute with knowledge of pan history; everything pan.
“They may become aware that some of their relatives actually form the history, and would realise that they too, are now literally creators of great or even greater history to be learned by the next generations.”
As such, the brainchild of Gittens Jr, Bertie Marshall ORTT, the National Steelpan Quiz and Spelling Bee Competition, came to life on World Steelpan Day at Highlanders Steelpan Theatre and Education Centre, Eastern Main Road, Success Village, Laventille, with its first competitors being pannists of Highlanders Youth Steel Orchestra (HYSO).
Highlanders Steel Orchestra's Pan Theatre and Education Centre. Click on this image to follow Highlanders Steel Orchestra on IG
Broken up into four teams and two grades, the day's participants enjoyed the fun, yet vital educational and cultural project, as a component of the World Steelpan Day’s full celebration, which ran from 11am-6pm. Teams were named after former legendary heads of HSO, namely: Henry Carrington, Tony Slater, Hollis Kam, and Kim Loy Wong.
Trust President, Gittens Jr and Highlanders Steel Orchestra (HSO) Manager, Robert Hernandez both expressed relentlessness in their pursuit to ensure that ‘Laventille – the birthplace of pan – is Learned and Celebrated’ via diverse ways, especially working with the young ones of any age.
Hernandez assured in advance and delivered proof that the pan facility is designed for such a calling and purpose, and the Gittens Jr-lead project was welcomed with open minds, hearts and arms. Commencing with brief audio and video presentations, questions crafted by Gittens Jr and Cecile George related to HSO’s history and on general knowledge were then asked as part of the National Steelpan Quiz.
Director of WSTTT (World Steelpan Thrust of Trinidad and Tobago) Bertel Gittens.
Entertainment included an appearance by award-winning, pan virtuoso, Dr Ray Holman, as well as the 2024 reigning Steelband Music Festival Single Pan champion, Uni Stars; Siparia Deltones, Phoenix Steel Orchestra, North Coast Pan Serenaders, Highlanders Steel Orchestra and others.
Bertram "Bertie" Marshall ORTT
A snippet on Bertram “Bertie” Marshall
Born in 1936, when as a child, Bertram “Bertie” Marshall roamed the streets of John John and Success Village, Laventille. He watched pioneering tuners at work and came into contact with Winston "Spree" Simon who created the multiple notes on the convex metal containers used for making pans. These encounters sparked Bertie’s interest in the steelpan and he began his secret association with pan and panmen.
It’s only after his mother died in 1954, he began playing openly, but many years passed before he tuned his first pan.
At 14, he got an old ping pong from Tokyo Steelband and tried to retune it, using his harmonica. By 18, he began tuning pans, guided by other tuners such as Carl Greenidge, but he was always dissatisfied with what he called ping pong's inferior tone.
By 1956, he had accomplished the most significant development in today’s steelpan tone, revolutionizing the method of tuning, by changing the instrument from the inharmonic style. By tuning the notes by octaves and introducing complex tuning techniques he produced harmonics, giving the steelpan its complex sound.
By discovering and establishing this harmonic tuning method he is said to have been singularly responsible for the sound of today's frontline steelband instruments. Bertie is also credited with inventing the Double Tenor instrument and for being the first person to amplify the steelpan.
He developed the Quadraphonics, Six Pan and Twelve Bass, together with Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra from Laventille.
Bertie received the very first national award for the field of music – the Chaconia Gold Medal – for Outstanding Service to the Country.
He became Highlanders leader in 1954, and on October 17, 2012, he died at 76.
Teams: Two primary/juniors: 11-13 years; two secondary/seniors: 14-18 years.
Winners: One 11-13; one 14-18, and one group winner.
For further information: 797.5887, 359.3090