Rosalind Gabriel, a presenter of large children's Carnival bands for the past ten years, is feeling pretty sad as she goes through the paces of preparing for her 2000 production titled "Panorama", the last in the trilogy of tributes to the spectacle that is Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
Sad because up to the present time, it appears that she is the lone entrant in the large band category "unless there is some unknown band waiting in the wings, and I truly hope that somebody else comes into large bands because there is surely room for it." Her two main rivals through the years, Richard Bartholomew, and more recently the combination of Alyson Brown and Deborah Bath- Gift, are both not entering the fray this year.
With more than a quarter century's experience and expertise in the production of children's Carnival costumes, starting when her eldest son was just two years old in the individual category, and continuing with her daughter, both of whom won King and Queen at various competitions, along with the presentation of small bands for the Children's Parade on Carnival Saturday, Gabriel eventually graduated to the large band section in 1990. And has been consistently successful over this ten year span.
She can also be credited for many innovations in children's Carnival. Gabriel's is the first children's band to have produced a trilogy (1998 "Tempo paid tribute to the calypsonians and 1999 "Carnival Time Again" to the bandleaders); the first to have its own music truck on the road starting in 1993; the first in 1994 to participate in the Monday Carnival celebration and was Band of the Day on many occasions; the first to introduce the concept of parents wearing the children's designs for the Carnival Monday parade; from the inception of the band she has annually donated over fifty costumes to the St Mary's Children's Home in Tacarigua, with help in sponsorship from Colfire Insurance and Tru Valu Supermarket, and transportation from the Water and Sewerage Authority; and three years ago launched her own website.
Down at the mas camp at No 26 O'Connor Street, a beehive of activity exists at this time as Gabriel moves into top gear with her tribute to The Steelpan for the first competition organised by the Flying Fish Swim Club at the Public Services Association Grounds at Long Circular Road, on Saturday February 19, 2000. A salute to the most memorable steelband champions over the past 36 years, is in tribute to the only musical instrument of the 20th century - our own steelpan.
Four hundred and seventy-five youngsters will display fourteen sections designed by Roger Myers for the fifth consecutive year, ranging in prices from $425 for 3-5 years to $995 for the teenagers. Hatters, Tropical Angel Harps, Invaders, Unknown Bands, Renegades, Exodus, Tokyo, Skiffle Bunch, All Stars, Starlift, Casablanca, Merrytones, Dixieland and Desperadoes.
Dressmakers from Chaguanas to Trincity, Belmont, Diego Martin and Woodbrook are busily stitching the basic costumes while parents and other hired help work late into the night putting together the numerous parts which make up the final costume.
While Gabriel herself has matched every colour, chosen and purchased every piece of material and every bead, and personally made the first costume of every section "after which the rest are produced." Not to mention her supervision of production of the eleven individuals and King and Queen of the band.
While her own children are now grown, and her five grandchildren play in the band, the dedicated bandleader does not think of giving up in spite of the rigours of mas production. "I think the reason I like mas so much is that as a child growing up in Stone Street, all the mas used to pass on Ariapita Avenue but coming from this strict family, it was out of the question for us to play mas, so from the time my first child was two that was it, he was in a band and then we graduated to the big costumes after that.
Gabriel has even produced a section "Pan Vibes" costing just $250.00 so that parents and adults can join their children on the road on Carnival Monday. "Without having any idea what was going to happen last year I tried a section, I sold all 160 costumes. And from what I am seeing will probably go double this year."