18
UWI TODAY 100
TH
ISSUE
– SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER, 2017
Keeping Our
Culture Alive
8
Greats about
Los Parranderos de UWI
B Y W Y N E L L G R E G O R I O
PARANG
Milestones
Ap a r t f r om t h e
accolades listed earlier
in# 5, one of themajormilestones
was the celebration of the group’s
35th anniversary in 2015 which
was a grand achievement in
the dedication to local culture.
This most recent momentous
occasion was commemorated
with a grand concert and the
group’s history was thoroughly
captured in the book / CD,
“Nuestra Cancion.”
Overseas Tours
Given its successes in the national parang
competitions in 1993 and 1994, Los Parranderos de
UWI was selected by NPATT (National Parang Association
of Trinidad and Tobago) to perform in Venezuela during the
first week of December 1995. The group was well received by
Venezuelan audiences wherever it performed.
As National Parang Champions of 2006, Los Parranderos
de UWI was invited by Kas di Cultura (Ministry of Culture
Netherland Antilles) to participate in the Christmas Folk
Festival held in Curaçao in 2007. The annual Festival features
folk groups from the Caribbean region presenting traditional
Christmas songs, dances and customs of their respective
countries. Los Parranderos de UWI was the first group from
the English-speaking Caribbean to be represented at the seven-
year-old festival. Given the enthusiastic response to the group
in 2007, it was invited once again to participate in 2008.
The Name
In the early years, the group was called “Los
Parranderos Universitarios” (translated as the
University parranderos). This proved to be a tongue twister
for many and so the group came to be affectionately called “Los
de UWI” but this omitted the key description and definition
of their name. After a period of normalization, the title “Los
Parranderos de UWI” was established and remains a strong
element of their brand.
The Beginning
The origins of the group are deeply rooted in The
UWI St. Augustine Campus and can be traced right
back to 1979. That year a group of students from the Spanish
Society decided to form a parang group primarily to sing at
their annual “Tertulia” event. The group proved immensely
popular and was invited to perform at other campus functions
during that season. Students of that era will long remember
the enthusiastic response at the Social Sciences fete to the
extent that many students shunned the DJ music and followed
the group all the way to Trinity Hall just to hear the group
performagain. Given the enthusiastic response, the 1980 season
witnessed the formation of a parang group open to students of
the campus fraternity.
The Music
The repertoire has changed significantly over the
years. As the group matured, there was a steady shift
towards a repertoire that also consisted of the compositions of
groupmembers themselves. Early leaders such as DonnaMarie
Bertrand (1982-1983) and Keith Dalip (1987-1990) began this
trend by penning compositions.
• Donna-Marie Bertrand, for example, gave the group “Salve
María,” Keith Dalip penned “Canta.”
• Theresa Cardinez wrote “Mil Felicidad” and “Dios de Santa
María.”
• “Nacido” written by Francisca Allardwhose brother Phillip
was a member of the group also became a group favourite
in those early days.
• Camille Renwick (1993 to 2002 penned a string of
aguinaldos and nacimientos for the group to perform at
the NPATT Finals. These included “La Maravilla” (1997),
“Si Es Verdad” (1998) and “Gloria A Ti” (2000).
• Collaborative efforts between group members such as
“Recordemos” (AlanDonawa, Roger Achong and Sheldon
Redhead - 1988), “Santa María” (Robert Persaud and
Kathy-Ann Joseph - 1996) and “La Virgen Santa” (Desdra
Bascombe and Sonja Gibbs - 2004).
• Dr. Sylvia Moodie, then Director of the Centre For
Language Learning(CLL), has given generously of her time
and expertise in overseeing the group’s compositions. In
fact, the group’s winning composition “El Buen Posadero”
in 2006 was co-written by her. Despite the increasing
number of original compositions in the repertoire over
the years, the group has remained committed to singing
standard favourites by stalwarts such as Henry Pereira
and others as a means of acknowledging their significant
contribution to the artform.
Recordings
2003 marked a major turning point in the evolution
of the band when it began recording. Mi Parranda
(2003) was the group’s first recording followed by two other CDs
to mark its 25th and 30th anniversaries. The recording process
not only allowed the band to highlight its original compositions
but also to pay tribute to some of the stalwarts and elders in
the parang world. The fact that all three recordings continue
to be seasonal best sellers is testimony to the success of the
transition to a recording group.
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Many of us have triggers for the holiday season
– the
first sound of soca-parang “Leroy, where yuh mudder
gone?” on 100.1 FM’s “100 days of Christmas;” the
smell of a freshly opened tin of white Sissons oil paint
for the banisters and other parts; the sight of an inflated
Santa; icicle lights, Christmas trees and poinsettia. For
me, it’s the sound of a cuatro strumming, maracas
shaking and the melodious voice of Joanne Briggs and
team singing “Rio Manzanare” in front of the Daaga
Auditorium at The UWI.
That’s when my Christmas season kicks in.
From September to December, once you’re on
the St. Augustine Campus on a Thursday evening,
whether playing football on top field, exercising or
wrapping up a day’s work, it’s hard not to be drawn
into the infectious sounds of the parang band. This
fascination, coupledwithmy love for parang compelled
me to approach the band’s PRO, Miguel Browne to
learnmore about the group, Los parranderos de UWI.
I’m sharing a Listicle of eight interesting facts
about the band and their contribution to local culture
from the book, “Nuestra Cancion,” and interviews with
the PRO, Miguel Browne.
Competitions
The Talent
While the band’s work has amassed several accolades
over its 35-year history, more can be said about its
members who are rather talented people. There has been a
series of individual awards for singing, percussion and strings
among others. This close-knit team understands the value of
not just talent, but dedication and passion for the art form. A
thorough description of the band members and their personal
stories are in the pages of “Nuestra Cancion” as they pay tribute
from foundationmembers to the current group of twenty or so
band members. Even better, take a quick scroll through their
vivid photos and sprightly videos on face book to get a true
taste of what they have to offer and I promise you won’t be
disappointed. If you’re UWI staff, student, alumni or more so
a Trinbagonian, you’d be proud of this band and their impact
on local music and culture.
For more Information
Check Los Parranderos de UWI on Facebook
Contact PRO, Miguel Browne 761-7514
Foundation members
Los Parranderos de UWI 2015
