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Jason
"Peanut" Isaacs, with co-composer of Ten
Commandments of Pan, Ingrid de Peiza |
Trinidad - The
legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra descended
from the hills of Laventille to put on one of
the more memorable performances in recent times
at the 2008 steelband music Panorama
championship arena. Their tune of choice
was “The Ten Commandments of Pan” by New
York-based arranger/composer/performing artist
Jason ‘Peanut’ Issacs,
co-written with wife Ingrid de Peiza.
Under the musical direction of noted arranger,
the world-renowned Robert Greenidge with the
assistance of Beverly Griffith, Desperadoes
delivered a jaw-dropping and masterful work - it
was indeed a special interpretation and
performance. Greenidge had pulled out all
stops, especially for the final phase of competition.
His arrangement merited comparison with that of the magnificent
musical themes of the classic Hollywood movie
epics.
The song itself was one
of the more melodic for the 2008 panorama
season, well constructed, and probably pleasing
to work with and arrange. It went over
well in terms of listenability, both when
vocalized, and when arranged for pan. It
was a savvy selection which brought real music
back to the panorama arena, while hailing from
the 2008 crop of available tunes, and not
harkening back to yesteryear.
The transitions
featured in the arrangement thematically stayed
within what was obviously part of the concept of
the tune, that 'big movie' framework (think back
to the original biblical movie epic of the Ten
Commandments). And the players hugged the
music with a fervor as they delivered their
mighty musical statement with majesty, those
commandments on steelpan.
Desperadoes is a musical institution that always
had a very special relationship with their home
base of Laventille. And the people
instinctively and clearly knew that 2008
was the year of ‘one of those’
magical arrangements.
They materialized at the Queens Park Savannah in droves, and
flowed along with the band at all points in what
seemed waves of biblical proportions. The
people of Laventille
are always there for Desperadoes, but there is a
further nexus that is clearly evident when they
recognize that the orchestra is about to
accomplish something magnanimous. This
symbiotic relationship is in itself one of the
great love affairs of our time. This was one of those
years as the people of Laventille watched
and listened as Desperadoes made their
mystically musical statement.
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Desperadoes on stage at 2008 semi finals
of Panorama |
Desperadoes entered this year's competition focused, driven and inspired. The steel orchestra moved from eighth position in
the preliminaries, to sixth in the semis, on
their inexorable march on to the championship
round. And although they only achieved fourth
position in the eyes of the judges, steelpan
music aficionados worldwide were moved and
awed by their music, performance and appearance.
Moreover they earned the continued respect
of their fellow competitors and supporters.
Indeed, Desperadoes had done everything to
sustain their celebrated reputation and on
finals night, fulfilled the highest
musical expectations.
Desperadoes, equally respected for their visual
imagery and dramatic portrayals left nothing to
chance. For the finals, their onstage presentation included two tablets,
referencing the biblical “Ten Commandments”
inscribed on stone. The musicians - all one
hundred and twenty - took the stage dressed in
regal shepherd attire - mainly in white. This
was an important part of portraying their
musical theme of their panorama selection.
And the only thing left was for Moses himself to
emerge from within the steelband racks,
‘parting’ both the pannists, then the crowd [red
sea]). And of course, for Desperadoes
Steel Orchestra to have gone on to capture the
title.
