WHERE interview with Robin “Schwarp” Margetson (Gemonites Steel Orchestra - Antigua )

WHERE. Robin, congratulations on leading your band - the youngster among the senior bands of Antigua and Barbuda - to the Panorama championships. But a lot of younger people don't know about Antigua 's rich steelband tradition. How rich is it really? Tell me a story of Antiguan pan.

RM : The Steelband movement goes back at least 60 years, and that is easily calculated based on one band – Hells Gate – now celebrating its 60 th anniversary. The steelband movement started as a stigmatized activity for vagabonds and it was unheard of that females were allowed to participate. The names of the earlier bands such as Hells Gate, Brute Force and Red Army, reflected the hostility and struggle faced.

Then the change in acceptance came with the support of Governor Baldwin who practically opened the gates for pan to be recognized as an integral part of Antigua ’s culture. Today although our geographical size does not allow Antigua to compete in quantity (either in the number of bands or the actual band size), it is the quality of our steelbands over the years that has attracted attention!

Antigua is credited as having the first steelband to be recorded on wax. Brute Force, Red Army and Hells Gate made way or gave birth to Harmonites, Rising Sun, Superfly, Buccaneer Cove Pirates, Supa Stars, Cedar Sonics, South Stars, Halcyon, Ebonites, Mahico Stars, Gemonites, West Side Symphony.

WHERE. How did you get into pan?

RM : My first exposure to pan was at panorama 1973. From then I signed up with the St. Joseph Academy Rhythm Masters, then was invited to fill a vacant position with a small community band from Gambles Terrace under Luther Lee. Colin Derrick (now a Senator) also encouraged a couple of us from SJA to join Harmonites in 1973 and I stayed there for 4 years until I began attending the Princess Margaret School to do “A” Levels and I gravitated towards the school steelband, PMS Serenaders which later became Gemonites and here I am still…..and still loving it.

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WHERE. Gemonites began back in 1978 as a schoolboy band. That's a departure from the tradition of village bands being formed that go on to become national bands.

RM : Yes, it was. PMS Serenaders was never located in a strong residential community and that also posed a big threat to the early existence of Gemonites.

WHERE. Tell me about those early years of Gemonites.

RM : Gemonites was always attracting a membership of around 30 – 40 at carnival. We were fortunate to have worked with a number of persons who have since gone on to become accomplished pannists in their own right. Names like Dayne “Wadica” Gomes, Roderick “Biggs”Cochrane, George “Sentie” Thomas, Aubrey “Lacou” Samuel, Eustace “Papu” Cochrane Jr., Vere “Just Boast” Henry, and Johnny Gonsalves come instantly to mind.

WHERE. Everyone in the band apparently had a nickname. Explain.

RM : A nickname was either given voluntarily as a way to identify your close friends by or……..stuck on involuntarily as a reminder of an unpleasant or embarrassing situation the particular individual encountered.

WHERE. And your own nickname is Schwarp. What on earth does that mean?

RM : As far as I remember it was Luther Lee and his brother “Juggler” who dubbed me “Schwarp”. In my school years I guess I was not as aggressive as they would have hoped and the nickname was a twist on the word S-H-A-R-P , a term that most guys aspired to become or were pressured into.

WHERE. Where has Gemonites been in the last 27 years? Where has the band travelled?

RM : Shortly after winning our first panorama championship in 1981, Gemonites first toured Barbuda for Caribana in 1982, and then represented Antigua at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee for 3 months. We returned to Knoxville in 1985 as a joint venture with the University of Tennessee . In 1992, Gemonites also toured France to participate in the “Festival de Confolens” for 2 weeks. Gemonites performed at the Barbados Pan Festival in 2004 and the National Cultural Foundation in Antigua and with the assistance of some wonderful Corporate Citizens who shared our vision we were able to make it happen.

WHERE. Gemonites has had a long relationship with Trinidadian pan makers and tuners. Tell me about this.

RM : Gemonites has enjoyed a wonderful and mutually beneficial relationship with Mr. Joseph Roseman of Cordettes fame (Trinidad) and more recently with the incomparable Bertram “Birch” Kellman (of Renegades fame) for over 10 years. Both have not only worked with us tirelessly but offered invaluable advice along the way.

WHERE. And the band also makes a contribution to Panorama in Trinidad . How?

RM : Unofficially, of course! For the past years….perhaps more than 10 years now we have had a few players travel to Trinidad to play with Phase II Pan Groove….incidentally the 2005 Trinidad panorama champions.

WHERE. But Gemonites's biggest moment comes each year with the Moods of Pan Festival... How did it all begin?

RM : Well it all ties in with our need to attract members to our group. Since we were not supported by a strong or large residential community we introduced a “ School of Pan ” in 1999 where we offered free pan classes (to this day) for interested persons of all ages. Then to showcase the progress of these budding pannists we decided to stage a production called “Moods of Pan” which has since blossomed into a fine four day pan festival.

WHERE. How does a small orchestra of voluntary workers manage to attract headliners in pan like Robert Greenidge, Ken Professor Philmore, Liam Teague and Andy Narell, among others.

RM : First of all, we have always been bold, courageous and believed in ourselves. We explained to these artistes how we wanted to keep the endangered steelband artform alive in Antigua and with the assistance of some wonderful Corporate Citizens who shared our vision we were able to make it happen.

WHERE. What does Moods of Pan do for Antigua 's steelband music culture?

RM : “Moods of Pan” is fast becoming a National Festival on the Antiguan calendar and gives us the opportunity to see exactly how much our Antiguan bands and soloists have progressed in contrast with the rest of the region and the wider world.

WHERE. How do you see the festival growing in the future?

RM : I see Moods of Pan attracting mammoth crowds from the Caribbean and beyond with our wonderful tourism product benefiting tremendously from these visitor arrivals for the festival. After all, it is the closest thing Antigua has to a full fledged music festival. Maybe we need to incorporate other big international artistes – pan related or not- to make “Moods of Pan” develop to its full potential!

WHERE. And what is the future of pan in Antigua ? I notice so many young people playing in the band. How come?

RM : Right now the future of pan looks a much brighter picture than say….10 years ago. The introduction of pan in churches and schools has resulted in a number of young persons and ladies in particular being very active in pan. We have to re-structure our local Pan Association, have more concerts and pan competitions other than at Carnival and Independence . The re-introduction of bands in the rural areas is also expected to strengthen an already reviving artform and we have to come together to ensure this de-centralization happens sooner than later. More training programmes within the established bands won’t hurt either!

WHERE. And school of pan lessons are free?

RM : Well….ours are! Interest and appreciation by our many School of Pan members have motivated us to keep our classes available to everyone….and I mean Everyone!!!

WHERE. Do you think people in Antigua and Barbuda really appreciate steelband music and the nation's own pan culture?

RM : Antigua is really a relatively small island with a population of only about 75, 000 persons but I think that the support for pan could be a lot better. We have to keep plugging away and I honestly believe that one day we will make a major break-through and get the numbers doubling, tripling and more…..

WHERE. And Gemonites has won Panorama twice in the last two years. Certainly 2003 victory in your 25th anniversary year was a dream come true...

RM : Actually twice in the last three years. It shows a level of consistency and It is a good feeling that I could get used to. To be victorious during our 25 th Anniversary was indeed special since it came 22 long, hard years after our first victory.

WHERE. How does a Panorama composition differ from any other piece of music written for pan?

RM : Usually a pan arranger composing a panorama piece is equipping the music with all the aspects of music (melody, harmony, motives, lyrics, punchlines) that he would otherwise be looking long and hard for in most of the other songs available….even some of those allegedly made for pan. We always say ….writing a song and having the lyrics speak about pan does not qualify it as a suitable piece for pan….remember the pan plays music and not lyrics.

WHERE. And you've done it again in 2005!

RM : Yes….we have….and apparently convincingly so too. There seems to be little doubt that we performed exceptionally well that night and a number of persons in the audience thought that the judge’s decision was simply a formality…..and yes….this was the view of some of the die-hard supporters of other bands too. It was a total team effort in preparing the music, distribution of the parts, and the rhythm and balance was good, the pans were tuned sweetly, and the execution and actual performance ensured we peaked at the right time (and place). I also think the position we played was a strategic part of it all.

WHERE. And as for your own future in music... Where do you see yourself in the world of pan music five years from now.?

RM : Probably composing and arranging once I’m up to it and still passionate about what I do. Otherwise, I may be able to find a role in management of some sort. I think that I still have a lot to offer to my band and the Antiguan pan movement in general.

WHERE. Robin Margetson - Schwarp - many thanks.