"Music
sometimes can generate strong emotions and
memories. If you have lived in or visited
Trinbago, I hope this piece generates a sense of
nostalgia."
I had recorded the basic melody of this song
(by Jason Dasent’s studio) before going to
Norway in 2000, and found myself playing the
song in the car while driving through the snow
or through the dark sky (in winter the sun sets
around 3 to 3.30pm).
The song would always take
me back home in my mind.
I decided to complete the song by recording it
by Junior “Ibo” Joseph in 2006, with Liam
agreeing to perform the pan for the song. The
song remains one of my favorite compositions,
simple and melodious, and most of all having
that nostalgic feeling kick in. For all the
Trinis living abroad, I hope it at least stirs
up old memories of your homeland, and makes you
feel the pangs of returning home. For all the
people who have been to Trinidad and Tobago, I
hope it makes you feel like making another visit.
»
See video of the song
at YouTube.
In planning Pan In Education II, I thought that
the boundaries could be stretched, with our own
local pan arrangements of our music, being
scored and transcribed for conventional
orchestral instruments. We have heard classical
music on pan, but why not reverse the concept
and have our musical arrangements played in
conventional orchestras. Gary Gibson agreed to
be part of this exciting experiment, and
transcribed Liam’s pan arrangement for orchestra. I felt good that we could do this kind of work
at home.
The National Sinfonia in Trinidad and Tobago,
conducted by Jessel Murray, kindly agreed to
perform the piece at their concert held in
Queen’s Hall in August 2007,
like the NIU Spring
Concert 2007, they also decided to end the show
with this piece. Judging from the response of
the players and the audience, moving in their
seats,
the experiment showed that we clearly
should explore these boundaries further with our
own music. I hope to hear the piece on a full
sized philharmonic orchestra one day. One person told me they loved the
"soca on strings".
Thanks to Liam Teague, members of NIU Steel
Orchestra, Gary Gibson, Jerome Julien, Jessel
Murray and all the players of the National
Sinfonia for being part of this journey. We can
now hear a complete arrangement of a local piece
on pan and on conventional orchestra.
Lyrics:
Instrumental Verse
Background vocals at Chorus 1 Dreaming of a good lime
Taking me back in time
Instrumental Verse
Background vocals at Chorus 2 Around de Savannah
For coconut water
Whenever the nostalgia hitting me when I roam,
(That is-pronounced in Trini) when I feel to go home
Make me want to go back home
Instrumental Bridge
Pan Solo
End song with (Ah feel like) repeat
(Ah feel like going back home) repeat
