New York
-
Competitive
juices
flowed
on a
summery
hot
Saturday
afternoon
- the
last in
July -
as
members
of
various
steelband
music
powerhouses
came in
a
determined
but
jovial
and
energetic
mood to
the
‘premises’
of
Sonatas
Steel
Orchestra.
But most
obvious
among
all was
a
passion
for
total
fun -
present
in very
large
measure
at the
second
Annual
Sports
Day
organized
by
defending
steelband
panorama
champions,
Sonatas.
The
2010
edition
of the
event
had met
with
success
and
generated
bragging
rights
for an
entire
year, so
there
was much
eagerness
on the
part of
many
participants
to turn
the
tables,
so to
speak.
Good-natured
ribbing
and
teamwork
upped
the ante
as the
competitors,
bolstered
by an
ample
supply
of
“fuel”
in the
form of
ice cold
water,
juices,
energy
drinks
and
sodas
(with
optional
delicious
hot dogs
and
hamburgers
available)
- gave
miscellaneous
sporting
activities
their
best
shots
from the
early
afternoon
into
evening
hours.
Now,
normally
when you
mention
the
names
Sonatas,
Pantonic,
ADLIB
and Despers,
among
others in the
same
breath,
you had better
duck -
so
intense
is the
annual
New York
Panorama
music
competition.
And yes,
in a few
weeks
the New
York
steel
orchestras
will
be locked
in combat
for
musical
supremacy
in one
of the
most
hotly
contested
music
contests
in
America. But for
now, it
was all
fun,
play,
and good
times as
these
major
long-standing,
community-based
institutions
came
together
to
participate
in
the
Annual
Sports
Day.
Again
demonstrating
their
vital
importance
to youth
development,
community
outreach
and
their
major
roles in increasing
the
quality
of life
and
humanity
in
general
- the
steel
orchestras
of New
York
historically
are much
more
than
mere music
entities
in these
very communities.
From
toddlers
to
seniors
- all
could be
seen
participating
or just
enjoying
watching
the
interactions
between
the
youth
and
organizations. In a
city
that is
increasingly
hostile
and
devoid
of
moments
that
validate
and/or
reaffirm
our
communities’
humanity,
this
event
was
a massive
initiative.
Sporting
activities,
smiles,
squeals
of laughter,
jokes,
camaraderie,
great
cuisine
and good
feelings
were the
order of
the day
- as the
organizations
who
represent
the
great
diversity
of our
communities
through
their
members,
displayed
the
level of
cooperative
spirit
that is
the norm
among the
steel
orchestras,
particularly
the
younger
generation;
and in
complete
contradiction
of what
the
major
media
highlights
and
promotes.
No fake
politicians
from
another
planet,
or
culturally-barren,
self-appointed
leaders,
or “look
at me”
for-the-camera
entities
were
present. It was
all
about
the
bands,
the
young
people
and
community. People
with a
heart,
people
that
care.
In place
of pan
sticks
and
those
grand
musical
war
chariots,
on this
day there
was
basketball,
flag football,
soccer,
sack racing,
sprints,
apple-bobbing, egg and
spoon,
tug-of-war
and
hot-dog
eating,
and more.
Babes in
arms,
babes in
strollers, little
people,
big
people,
young,
mature,
band
managers,
arrangers,
captains
and the
like
were all
here
soaking
up the
fun and
good
times.
Sonatas
Steel
Orchestra
and all
the
participating
steel
orchestras
are to
be commended
for
putting
in place
another
great
tradition
which
the city
of New
York can
take a
page
from and
be proud
of.
And
there
was no
one from
the
Mayor’s
office
to “see”
‘who we
be, and
how we
living.’
Ironically,
it was
in this
very
spot
less
than a
year
ago
that, in
something
that
looked
like a
scene
out of a
movie,
a
police
task
force
descended
on these
same
kids and
their
parents
as they
were
preparing
for the
2010
panorama.
This,
visited on
a
historical music
and
community
organization
that has
been in
the same
spot for
forty
years,
and is
known
and
recognized
for its
exemplary
work
during
that
time. Hopefully
the
mayor’s
office
will
show a
modicum
of
decency
and
respect
for the
humanity
of these
communities,
by not
having a
repeat
performance.
In spite
of the
above
behavior
by New
York
City,
however
- fathers
and
sons,
mothers
and
children,
aunts
and
uncles,
siblings
and the
like -
all came
out and
had a
fun time
on the
summer
Saturday
afternoon
at
Sonatas’
Sports
Day.
And with
members
of more
steel
orchestras
indicating
an
interest,
the 2012
event
promises
to be as
enjoyable,
and
chock
full of
mad fun,
even
more
sporting
activities,
and
great
food!
Related
article:
Sports
Day &
Sun with
hosts
Sonatas
In
Pictures
