Art Music by Caribbean Composers: Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is most famous for its indigenous musical traditions, calypso and soca and is the birthplace of the steel pan.


INTRODUCTION
Trinidad and Tobago are the southernmost of the Caribbean islands, reaching almost to the coast of Venezuela (Dudley, 2005).Trinidad was originally colonized by Spain, but Spanish "settlement on the island was never extensive" (Brown, 1990, p. 83).In the 18th century, Trinidad welcomed a large number of settlers from the French West Indian colonies.Trinidad also received a number of refugees following the French and Haitian Revolutions."These influxes immediately infused the island with the morals, customs, and language of the 'French Creoles'" (Munro, 2005).The annual carnival is one such cultural tradition derived from the island's French influence (Munro, 2005).
European colonists established plantations, manned first by African slaves, and later, after the abolition, by East Indian indentured labourers.Most of the modern population of Trinidad and Tobago descends from these two groups of labourers, making Trinidad and Tobago one of the most diverse nations in the Caribbean (Dudley, 2005).
Trinidad and Tobago achieved independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1974 (McDaniel, 1998).
Musical traditions derived from the East Indian roots of the population include tan singing and chutney (Manuel, 2008).However, Trinidad and Tobago is most famous for its indigenous musical traditions, calypso and soca, and, of course, as the birthplace of its national instrument, the steelpan.
Steelbands are widely popular among other Caribbean nations as well as in Caribbean-diaspora communities, but the steelpan originates from Trinidad (Dudley, 2013).
A wealth of steelpan competitions exist, including the national events "Panorama" and "Pan Is Beautiful".Music of all genres, from classical to popular, are arranged for steelbands and performed at these events (McDaniel, 1998).
The island of Tobago is home to tambrin (derived from the word "tambourine"), a unique local musical tradition: Tambrin bands feature three or more flat frame drums played with the hands (similar to both the Irish bodhran and the frame drums used in the Jumbie Dance of Montserrat), a leading melody instrument (typically a violin), a triangle, and sometimes other percussion (Bilby & Neely, 2009, p. 251).
The "Tobago reel", believed to be of Scottish origin, is a popular song style of tambrin bands.Other tambrin bands have "broader repertoires that include other European-derived dances, such as jigs, waltzes, 'marching pieces,' heel and toe polka, and various figures of the quadrille, as well as entirely local forms, such as bell and calypso" (Bilby & Neely, 2009, p. 251).
Since 2003, the music curriculum for schools in Trinidad and Tobago includes steelpan performance and instruction (Remy, 2011).An examination program for steelpan, now used internationally, assesses students' proficiency, technique and musical literacy.Much of the music composed expressly for the steelpan are examination pieces (Remy, 2011).
The University of the West Indies offers both a Certificate in Music and a BA in Music Arts.The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad offers an AA in Music (Remy, 2011).The Academy for the Performing Arts, part of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, offers various certificates in music performance as well as a BFA in the Performing Arts which includes a music specialization track.Birdsong Academy in Tunapuna has for many years incorporated brass and woodwind tuition and performance into its music programme which is otherwise centred on steelpan.In recent years there have been moves to emulate this model in panyards across the country (A.Walters, personal communication, May 25, 2013) The Music Literacy Trust provides financial assistance and sponsorship to musical education programs and to students pursuing music education both in Trinidad and abroad.The Trust is also working to fund efforts to archive pan compositions and scores (Remy, 2011).Calabash Foundation for the Arts, established in 2012, provides funding and support for the development of the arts in Trinidad and Tobago (A. Walters, personal communication, May 25, 2013).
The National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO), formed in 2007, performs a wide classical, contemporary and original repertoire arranged or composed for the "G" family of steelpans.
The NSSO also conducts workshops and other training sessions to improve musical techniques and standards in the country.Several members of the NSSO are also composers.
Other groups offering support for art-music performance, appreciation of and education in Trinidad and Tobago include the National Symphony Orchestra, Trinidad and Tobago Youth Philharmonic, the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra and the newly formed National Philharmonic Orchestra (under the auspices of the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, A. Walters, personal communication, May 25, 2013).
Prolific composer Ray Holman has composed in a variety of styles and his "sense of style is firmly rooted ... in the rhythmic sensibility he absorbed" from his years playing and arranging for his steelband, the Invaders (Dudley, 2001, p. 189).Holman composed "Waltz for Iris" in memory of his mother, Iris, who passed away in 2003 (R. Holman, personal communication, June 7, 2013).Dominique Le Gendre, based in London, is one of many prominent Trinidadian composers and musicians who live and work outside of Trinidad.Her composition "Riff" for string quartet and percussion, was premiered in The Bahamas as part of the International Symposium on Composers of African and Afro-Caribbean Descent.
Le Gendre originally composed "Riff" for a battle scene in a radio drama, but she re-arranged it to give it a more relaxed dance feel (Cariclassical, 2013).
Liam Teague is Associate Professor of Music and Head of Steelband Studies at Northern Illinois University.Through his compositions, he seeks to highlight the beauty, versatility and profundity of the steelpan.This effort is evident in his four-movement piece for steelpan, "A Visit to Hell."The piece was inspired by a teenaged nightmare of the composer.In the third movement of the piece, "Fanfare for the Devil", the steelpan is played with three mallets and evokes the sounds of brass instruments "heralding the arrival of the Devil" (L.Teague, personal communication, August 17, 2013).
Adam Walters, originally from the United Kingdom, teaches at the Academy for the Performing Arts, part of the University of Trinidad and Tobago.Since his arrival in Trinidad, he has drawn upon aspects of Trinidadian culture in his compositions.Of particular interest to musicians, Walters' Chaconia Music catalogue provides access to scores from composers from throughout the region.
Arranging for steelpan orchestra is a highly respected craft in Trinidad and Tobago and, with many new pieces created each year for performance at Panorama, the repertoire is extensive and continues to grow further still.Many arrangers, such as Leon "Smooth" Edwards and Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, demonstrate such virtuosity in the techniques of counterpoint and motivic development that their art can be considered a form of composition in its own right (A. Walters, personal communication, September 27, 2013).
The steelpan has a very large presence in musical life in Trinidad.Using a variety of styles, including classical styles, a wealth of composers write and arrange for the pan.Steelpan music almost defies definition; the instrument lends itself to many playing styles.Steelpan music is a living tradition in Trinidad and efforts to document this tradition continue.Owing to the unique depth and breadth of the steelpan musical tradition in Trinidad, this entry is only able to include a sample of art musical works composed for the pan.The fugitive

Connor
Carnival messiah

Cross
The The right and the wrong (film score)

Reid
Caribbean eye (TV score) The dish ran away with the spoon (TV score) Gayelle (TV score) Morral (TV score) The rig (TV score) Who the cap fits (TV score) BishopDalinda and the swamp (opera for steelpan)Voice and steel (folk opera)BrownTempest (for solo pan)October showersBrunnerSteelpan concertoCaruthPan waves (1988, test piece)CastagneForged from the love of liberty(National  anthem, Trinidad and Tobago) .