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The Rainmakers (the result of a
collaborative production between two steelpan women: Franka-Hills
Headley and Dr. Jeannine Remy) comprises of the San Fernando-based
Golden Hands Steel Orchestra and the UWI (University of the West Indies)
Percussion Ensemble in a dramatic musical production that incorporates
traditional Trinidadian folklore, dance, and costumes, and is presented
in a choreography set to original music. Franka Hills-Headley wrote the
script, and the music was composed by Dr. Jeannine Remy. A staging of
this elaborate musical work is set for March 22nd at one of
Trinidad’s premier venues, the Queen’s Hall in St. Ann’s.
 The first half of
the show will feature the UWI percussion ensemble
followed by an intermission performance on the Percussion Harmonic
Instrument (PHI). The
PHI is an Electronic Percussion Innovation from
the UWI Engineering Lab; and that performance takes place in the lobby
of the venue while the stage is set for the second half of the Rainmakers
production.
In November of 2008, the Rainmakers performed at the Percussive Arts Society
International Convention in Austin, Texas. Professor
Gary Cook, President of the Percussive Arts Society, presented a
commemorative plaque to the group, stating: “The Rainmakers has been a
highlight of our convention and my personal witnessing of this amazing
production was both moving and inspiring.” The Rainmakers was
acclaimed by Jeff Hartsough, PASIC’s Director of Event Production and
Marketing, who noted: “Your performance was awesome; we’ve had several
people say it was one of the best sessions at PASIC…”. From the Sabian
Cymbals PASIC report on the Rainmakers they said: “One of the most
moving and theatrical performances came from the Rainmakers from
Trinidad. The work they performed was titled ‘A Tropical Journey in
Percussion and Steel’. With impeccable playing, together with a moving
story and theatrical movement, their performance moved everybody in
attendance. Many commented on the unique textures and levels of playing
that they had formerly not thought possible with steel pan music.”
Now those who are in Trinidad
have the opportunity to experience the show
that had the US audiences on the edge of their seats. The main intent
of this work is to provide a forum for the integration of the diverse
disciplines of visual and performing arts. The Rainmakers is a
programmatic suite of nine compositions that comprise of five steelband
ensemble pieces with light percussion accompaniment, two solos, one
quartet, and one piece that combines a large percussion ensemble with
the steelband.
As a unit, these pieces explore the practical and
theoretical potential of the steelpan that is vital for its continued
evolution as a musical instrument in the 21st century. It also
integrates both traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments
together with a conventional steelband. The compositions are intended to
elevate the level of performance practice by expanding the musicianship
of young panists. New techniques and practical idioms are explored that
require innovative uses of the steelpan instruments. In this performance
session soloists will perform with four sticks and one will perform
on a new steelpan instrument dubbed “the extended seconds”. The music
moves from a distinct dissonant to a consonant quality as the storyline
unfolds and hints at the plethora of ethnographic music genres that are
the fruition of the rich ‘creolization’ process of the islands of Trinidad
and Tobago.
The
Rainmakers in concert comes off at the Queen’s Hall
on
March 22nd at 6:00 p.m.
For tickets call 1 (868) 663 2222; (868) 662-2002 ext. 3791/3792).
Here is a
look at the events surrounding the Rainmakers production in Texas
last year.
click to leave an opinion
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on the Celebration of Women and the Steelpan Art Form
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