TASPO Celebrates 75 Years Of Taking Steelpan To The World
Marking history as the first national steelband to travel abroad and showcase Trinidad and Tobago’s pride on the world stage, the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) marked its 75th anniversary with a musical showdown, once again honouring the instrument that carried the nation across the globe.
In 1951, the steelpan sailed to new horizons when the Festival of Britain became the first international event to welcome the acoustic instrument.
Making history as the first steelband to travel abroad, TASPO united rival bands and introduced the steelpan, the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, to international audiences.
Dr Josephine Torrel-Brown of JTB Edutainment and Consultancy Services recounted the moment when the steelpan earned international respect – a defining milestone that triggered its globalisation.
« When TASPO arrived in England, that was another defining moment. The persons there laughed because they saw rusty oil drums, they saw rusty pans, and they laughed. ‘Where them West Indian people going with them old thing,’ right? But when TASPO started to play, their tune changed. They were amazed. They were astonished. They were looking under the pan, behind, where is the recording? They could not believe the sound that came from our wonderful instrument. »
She said their legacy that paved the way for the National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) that followed behind.
« Their legacy paved the way for the National Steel Orchestra. So TASPO was the first national orchestra, and now our current national orchestra is NSSO and the Steelband Association in those days is what we now have as Pan Trinbago. »
She emphasised that the history of the steelpan’s voyage serves as a reminder of national resilience and pride.
« We should be reminded that we should not wait for outside validation. We have to be proud of what we have and what we are capable of. TASPO’s voyage proved to the world what our communities had always known: that steel pan is brilliance, discipline, and pride. »
The cultural project was hosted in collaboration with UTT’s Masters in Carnival Studies Programme and was held at the home of the Phase II Pan Groove Steel Orchestra in Port of Spain.
