Читать книгу Voices from the Hills - Ancil Neil - Страница 17

The study revealed that the steelband had its origin in the Laventille area. According to persons interviewed and other data collected, the Laventille community had a `tamboo-bamboo' band. "The three outstanding tamboo-bamboo bands of the late 1930's were `calvary' bamboo band which later became `Alexander's Ragtime' band, `Hell Yard' bamboo band which was to become `Cross of Lorraine', and today is known as `Trinidad All Stars', and the `Dead End Kids'¹⁹

"The `Dead End Kids' must be considered in the tamboo era for, although they made no significant contribution in the early days as far as pan or steelband is concerned, their members were later leaders in the steelband movement. This band later became the `Desperadoes Steelband' and is still a considerable force in the steelband world today.²⁰

The steelband was a direct descendent of the `tamboo-bamboo' bands. These tamboo-bamboo bands were comprised of several `pieces of bamboo of different lengths and sizes cut at special times of the moon, and in the hands of these make-shift percussionists, were made to create the same atmosphere of primitive abandon. So was born the tamboo-bamboo band, from `tambour', french for drum."²¹

Later, when it was discovered that the bamboo was not only used for instrumental purposes, but as implements in the inter-districts fights that had replaced the old organized tribal rivalries, the tamboo-bamboo bands were banned by the police.²²

In the 1930's, the garbage can cover,²³ pots, oil drum, and biscuit tins, all provided the new means of rhythm.²⁴ The biscuit tin was said to be the first true pan. These tins were produced by the Rising Sun biscuit company.²⁵ The tin was hung around the player's neck upside down, and the base, now uppermost, was struck drum-style with the edge of an open palm or with a closed fist.²⁶

In the mid-1950's the steelband in the Laventille community took on a new image. A group of young men calling themselves 'Spike Jones' started a small steelband in the central Laventille area. This band was later incorporated into the original Desperadoes steelband. The merging of these two bands developed into the best steelband in the country.

It was this band that developed and modernized the steelband in the Laventille area. It eventually became the catalyst for the changes that occurred in the community.