Feature: Steel and drums of India at Naparima Bowl Friday

Photo credits: The Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism

The National Gas Company (NGC) and Pan Trinbago are collaborating to present a concert at the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando on Friday featuring the National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) and The Drums of India.

The visiting Indian band is led by Peravali Jaya Bhaskar. During rehearsals Tuesday Bhaskar and and NSSO music director Jessel Murray navigated the 40 musicians through a range of compositions that they will present at Friday's show.

The NSSO was formed in 2007. It comprises 30 pannists, many of whom are graduates of the music programme at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

As part of its mandate NSSO performs at official State functions and conducts training and outreach projects in schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Currently the orchestra is making expert use of the G-pan innovation which affords a wider musical range and fuller sound than its forerunner.

The NSSO is currently taking part in SteelfesTT – a collaboration between Pan Trinbago and the National Gas Company. 

The multiculturalism ministry said in a media release, the orchestra views its participation "as a rich opportunity to demonstrate the continuing evolution of the steelpan as a powerful and versatile percussive instrument; one that is equally at home with orchestral arrangements as it is with syncopated Caribbean rhythms."