The Heritage Library’s annual Carnival Lecture Series will begin on February 20 with an exhibition and lecture on the topic: “A Tribute to Artist Carlisle Chang.” On February 21, the library will host a panel discussion titled: “The Complex Art of Recording Steelpan”.  Both events, which are free to the public, will take place at the Audio-visual Room, National Library of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain, from noon to 1:00 pm. The series is in keeping with the Library’s responsibility to present the society to itself and to enrich the public’s understanding of our history, culture and peoples.

The lecture, “A Tribute to Artist Carlisle Chang” will be facilitated by Clayton de Freitas, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society.  The panel discussion, “The Complex Art of Recording Steelpan,” will focus on appropriate equipment, microphone placement and recording, mixing techniques and mastering for both individual instruments and large steelbands. 

The panel discussion will be moderated by Fulbright scholar Ray Funk. Panellists will include Kenny Phillips, engineer, producer and WACK radio owner who has been involved with recording pan for 35 years; Sean Sandiford from Sanch Electronics, pioneer of commercial recordings of steelbands in panyards. Sandiford has a compilation of Desperadoes about to be released and pan jumbie; John Schmidt, retired ABC recording engineer who has been recording pan in Brooklyn, USA, and in Trinidad for many years; and Yoici Watanabe and Katsunari Imai from the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Music Technology programme. Watanabe and Imai have been involved in recording Panorama for several years.

The National Library Information System Authority’s (NALIS) Heritage Library, located on the 2^nd floor, National Library of Trinidad and Tobago is especially known for its varied collections on Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. This library preserves, promotes and exploits our national heritage information. For more information about of history, our culture and our stories visit the Heritage Library, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Additionally, to find out more about upcoming programmes, view the library’s schedule online at www.nalis.gov.tt or visit the library.