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Steelpan In New York

New York Steelband Music
Arrangers’ Conference
(Steelband Arrangers Talk From the Heart:
their Concerns, Philosophies and Memories)
 

Raf Robertson, Yohan Popwell, André White, Keith Roberts, Sheldon Elcock

New York - On Saturday August 26, 2006 When Steel Talks (WST)  held its annual arrangers' conference in Brooklyn, New York.  This year's panel included Yohan Popwell (Sonatas), Keith Roberts (Pantonic), Raf Robertson (D'Radoes), Andre White (ADLIB) and Sheldon Elcock (Utopia Pan Soul).  The arrangers covered a wide and familiar range of topics - from their respective approaches to the 2006 competition - to their personal memories of the late master arranger Clive Bradley.

Keith Roberts - the year-round stage-side arranger and former Captain of Pantonic Steel Orchestra, has now taken on the panorama arranging duties of Bradley's flagship steel orchestra.  As the reigning New York champions, Pantonic - in their seven years of existence - have won five championships in the last seven years; they are considered the finest steel orchestra in North America.

Yohan Popwell - noted steel panist and arranger, returns for the third consecutive year at the helm of the mighty Pan Sonatas Steel Orchestra.  Popwell took Sonatas back to the winners' row in 2004.  The band has a long and successful 24-year panorama history with seven championships under their belt.

André White - has joined the arrangers' circle for the first time, with ADLIB Steel Orchestra.  At sixteen years old, Andre is the youngest arranger ever to enter the New York steelband music panorama competition.

Raf Robertson - is a noted musician who has taken over the arranging reins for D'Radoes Steel Orchestra, and knew Clive Bradley (who arranged for D'Radoes since their 2002 inception) - personally.  D'Radoes placed second last year in New York's steelband music competition and is one of the NY panorama powerhouses.

Sheldon Elcock - is a respected panist and arranger of Utopian Pan Soul: The Next Generation.  Utopia Pan Soul is one of New York's most popular year-round, performing steelpan groups, as they explore new boundaries for the music of steelband instruments.

Some Topics Covered

Co-host A. Howard chats with Raf Robertson and Yohan Popwell

• Thoughts on Clive Bradley

• The impact of Clive Bradley on this year's panorama competition

• Caribbean people and culture

• The advantages and disadvantages of sight reading in a steelband

• Expectations of players on arrangers

• Challenges of controlling the rhythm section

• The use of the voices allocated to your band

• The difference between the audio of their Friday night (the eve of panorama) yard performances, and the sound reinforcement for their panorama presentations

• Playing at position number one

• Expectations of arrangers on judges

• Musical selections for Panorama

• The effects of the sound system on the orchestra  on panorama night-  on both audience and judges

• The optimal time to have the orchestra blended before a panorama competition

  Panorama 2006 Information

Steelpan In New York

From the News Desk of When Steel Talks

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