At 2 a.m. in Trinidad & Tobago,  the
frenzy each year, the greatest show on
earth is born.  During Carnival Monday
morning and in the early hours, the first
revelers hit the streets – jumping,
dancing, shouting – abetted, it must be
admitted, by the fine local rum, but fueled
more by the exhilaration of the
occasion.  This early "Mas", known as "J’
Ouvert", pronounced "Jouvay"(a
contraction of the French "jour ouvert",
or "day open"), is for the true die-hard
player. It’s a ritual enacted to the
accompaniment of mud, oil, pitchforks
and pointed tails! An elemental
celebration of the darker side of human
life.

J'Ouvert Bands Websites
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Introduced to Trinidad in the late 1700s by the French, Carnival evolved from
the elaborate masquerade balls to the present spectacle of the streets. The
period stretching between Christmas and the start of Lent was a time for
feasting, fancy dress balls and celebration for both the French and British.
Banned from the festivities, slaves in the barrack yards would hold their own
celebrations mimicking their masters' behaviour while incorporating rituals
and folklore. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their
Carnival to the streets and, as each new immigrant population entered
Trinidad, a new flavour was added to the festivities. With each new group of
immigrants adding its own touch, Carnival blossomed into a nationwide party,
with calypso and steel pan music reflecting the country's multi-ethnic nature.
Carnival today includes influences from all creeds, races and classes and has
spread beyond the shores of the twin island nation.
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In 1883 the British government banned the playing of drums on the island, fearful
that they were being used to carry secret messages. Enterprising Afro-Trinidadians
immediately found other means of creating music. Some turned to cut bamboo poles
beaten rhythmically on the ground; these were called Tamboo Bamboo bands, and
they soon became a major musical force on the island. With the coming of industry,
bands. These metal additions were collectively known as "pan." Later, after the
Americans established military bases on the islands during World War II, empty oil
drums became available and were quickly put to musical use.
Today the government recognizes the steel pan as the official musical instrument of
Trinidad and Tobago. It's played year-round at official functions and social
gatherings, but the true time for the steel pan is Carnival. In the annual Panorama
festival, dozens of steel bands from around the country compete for the "Band of the
Year" title. Some have fewer than a dozen steel pans, while others number in the
hundreds. The performance of the larger bands creates a thunderous wall-of-sound
effect.
Steel Pan
Trinidad Carnival Tickets
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