Читать книгу Voices from the Hills - Ancil Neil - Страница 5

The sudden and most untimely death of Rudolph Charles the leader of Despers Steelband, has compelled me to accept the necessity to publish this book as a tribute to his memory. It will be found to be a valuable addition to his inventions and modernization of the Steelband, and the social, economic and political changes it brought about in the Laventille community.

The analysis of the Despers Steelband and its effects on poverty, stigma and violence in the Laventille community by Ancil A. Neil, is the author's master's thesis in which he explores the indigenous culture of a community in Trinidad and the significance of the music of that culture.

The Steelband is a musical band makeup of percussion instruments fashioned from 42 gallon steeldrums or barrels. It has its origin in Trinidad and was first used by musicians on the streets at Carnival time to beat out the rhythms and tempos of African, European, Calypso and native tunes. The development and modernization of this art form in the last three decades has become a major source of entertainment, dance, concert and classical music. It has also become a source of social, cultural, political and economic influence throughout the Trinidad society, the Caribbean and the world.

This is a fascinating study on a subject that has been overlooked by musicologist and sociologist alike. This work is indispensable for its tie-in of the music of the culture with the effects it has on the style of living of the people. It witnessed the growth and consolidation of a population of poor and unused African youth, confined in economic poverty and social decay, who created a modern musical art and used it to break the shackles of poverty and despair.