North Stand heats up
Posted: Monday, February 9, 2004

By Donna Pierre, Trinidad Guardian

Despite the late start to the 2004 Panorama semi-final at the Queen's Park Savannah yesterday, the North Stand was in full swing.

The semi-final was carded to start at 11 am, but actually began 40 minutes later.

Several times before the start of the conventional medium bands' performances, the announcer had to ask the North Stand rhythm sections to quiet down.

Not appearing to be perturbed by the noise were President George Maxwell Richards and his wife Dr Jean Richards.

President Richards, who was there from the start, was accompanied by Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams, Minister of Public Utilities and Environment Pennelope Beckles, and NCC chairman Kenny de Silva.

Fifteen medium bands and 15 large bands were slated to perform.

By 3 pm, Valley Harps was on stage before a packed North Stand, to perform the Michell Huggins Watts' arrangement, “We Like To Play.”

The majority of the medium bands had remained in the reduced time limit, using just over seven minutes.

Pan Trinbago President Patrick Arnold had announced last month that steel orchestras' time would be reduced from 10 to eight minutes.

Parry's Pan School had gone over the eight minutes by about 34 seconds while rendering Selwyn “Parry” Paul's arrangement “Play on Mr Pan Man.”

Potential Symphony used just about six and a half minutes to give patrons a good performance of De Fosto's popular “War 2004.”

Of the 30 bands performing at the semis, 10 had selected De Fosto's “War 2004.”

There were sprinkles of cocoyea in the North Stand as people anticipated the playing of Shadow's “Whop Cocoyea” by two of the bands in the large category.

Judges for the day were Lennox London, Merle Albino de Coteau, Cuthbert Matthews, Andy Chichester, Richard Pierre, Clement Danclair, Rosalind Garnes and an alternate judge, Jeanette Johnson.

As Curepe Scherzando was preparing to take centre stage close to 3.30 pm, the action was heating up on the track.

Opposite Jerningham Avenue was TCL Skiffle Bunch. Members of the band were entertaining some supporters and pan loyalist while they awaited their number two position among the large band category.

There was also a vendor selling local wine, wholesale and retail, from a cart.

Judging criteria included:

Arrangement - 40 points;

General performance - 40 points;

Tone - 10 points; and,

Rhythm - 10 points.

At the end of the semis, the judges selected eight bands from each category to compete in the National Panorama final.

This will take place on February 21 at the Queen's Park Savannah.

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