http://highlitevibes.com/blogs This blog promotes, reviews and advertises all things HighLite Vibes Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:37:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en -by Barbara Sealy Rhoden (2008) It is one thing to enjoy playing steelpan and quite another to make a living by it. Melvin Dean does both. Born and raised in Harlem, Dean may be one of few African Americans who earns a living playing the instrument. In 1962, he began playing ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/11/18/the-pan-business/ Today we completed a new work. Actually, it really is a derivative of a previously composed work - "A wah mi name." Nonetheless, it is an arrangement for steelband and symphonic orchestra. The final score would be submitted as an entry into the International Steelband and Orchestra Competition. We now ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/11/14/a-steel-band-overture/ A long time ago, long before I was conceived I am sure, the Mighty Sparrow released a hit song "Obeah Wedding." This calypso narrated a story about "Melda gyal." "Melda" was an individual who was seeking out the services of "obeah personas" to assist her in marriage. Regardless of ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/11/06/an-obeah-wedding/ Recently, I discovered an international competition that is promoting new music for steelpan and the symphonic orchestra. This is a combination that we have never really heard before. The steelband is an orchestra by itself - we have heard several bands playing classical works fairly regularly. What we have never ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/10/23/steelpan-and-the-symphonic-orchestra/ The New York Panorama event took place this weekend (August 30, 2008) behind the Brooklyn Museum. This weekend was historic. In an event where the best band was only a point better than the second best, it is hard for such a contest to not be considered controversial. Nonetheless it ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/09/01/adlib-in-history/ I am sure I am not the first to tell you, but the online music stores are causing a dramatic change and shift in the entire music industry. They are leveling the playing field allowing the unsigned artist to get equal "shelf-time" with the superstars and mega labels. Even though ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/08/22/online-music-stores/ As many of you are already aware of, websites such as facebook and myspace (commonly referred to as social networking sites and WEB 2.0) are dominating the internet with mind numbing views/day and staggering amounts of users. What you may not be aware of ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/08/13/getting-your-music-out-there/ -By Kurleigh Lowe Pan in A minor is a mega hit composed and performed by Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) in 1987. Amoco Renegades performed this piece in the panorama competition and Jit Samaroo’s interpretation of this piece is phenomenal and must be archived in the Steel Pan Classics library. This ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/07/09/pan-in-a-minor-analysis/ I have completed an analysis of the Pan in A-minor arrangement as played by Amoco Renegades (now BP Renegades). It would be posted on this website under the Pages section. In doing the analysis, some questions came to mind. Questions like, what constitutes a great panorama arrangement? There are ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/07/05/pan-in-a-minor/ The steelpan instrument was invented in Trinidad and has its history and growth on several sites all over the internet. Trinidadians are among the best pan players in the world. However, what exactly ranks you among the best? Is it your level of skill or how many records you sell? ... http://highlitevibes.com/blogs/2008/06/28/the-steelpan-no-longer-trinidadian/