Assignment 1

Brandon Agee

Due: 3/2/22

One important point I found in the reading was the when Dudley described how the
panmen had to learn about the challenges and intricacies to harmony, form, and texture and
how they learned. “…they almost invariably recall the challenge of learning about harmony,
form, and texture through performance of the classics and other repertoires.” (Dudley 44).
Another important point I found was when Dudley says that the experimentation of di erent
pitches allowed for the change in the character of the instrument, as well as its musical role.
“When panmen began experimenting further with the di erentiation of pitches, however, it set
o a frenzy of innovation that changed the character of the instrument and its musical role.”
(Dudley 47). One last point that I found important was when mentioning the modi cation and
renaming of the pans in the 1950’s. Dudley says “…the ping pong evolved into the tenor, the
background pans evolved into guitars, cellos, and other midrange pans, and the boom became
the bass.” (Dudley 51).

One thing I decided to look up was Eric Williams and the People’s National Movement. I
learned that Eric Williams was a Trinidad and Tobago politician. He founded the People’s
National Movement and is regarded as the “Father of the Nation”. I also looked up what a
lavway was. I found out that it is a call and response chant.

My discussion question is why has Steelband continued to grow so rapidly, especially

in the United States, while other new genres within the past one hundred years have stagnated
in growth and zzled out.

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 Bibliography

Dudley, Shannon, "The Steelband Movement and Music." Music from Behind the
Bridge: Steelband Aesthetics and Politics in Trinidad and Tobago, 2008, Oxford University
Press, pp. 29 - 56.