Project Description

For Deacon Bernard DuPlessis, director of the Holy Family Cathedral Steelband in St. Johns, Antigua, his Christian faith and Caribbean heritage are two entanglements not to be undone. “To be religious in Antigua, to me,” notes DuPlessis, “means the three C’s: Catholic, Christian, and Caribbean. Our steelband is doing just that, playing God’s music, whether in worship service or in the community.”

Across the Caribbean basin the range of steelpan and steelband activity in churches is diverse and interrelated among denominations, including parochial school steelbands, church steelbands performing hymns and/or meditations during worship service, and solo steelpan players leading scripture or liturgy to name only a few examples. In Caribbean churches the steelpan allows congregants across a wide age range an avenue for participation in worship services that fosters their identity as Caribbean and Christian as well as intergenerational fellowship, thus fulfilling the mission of many worship denominations across North America of elevating, stimulating, and supporting music in the liturgy.

The Church Steelpan Project attempts to record and document traditional Caribbean methodologies for integrating steelpans into worship services and present these methodologies for use by prospective worship communities in North America. This web-based resource provides historical research/context, scores, video/audio examples, steelband arranging tips, and steelband resources for use by church musicians throughout North America interested in bringing this multicultural musical instrument into their respective worship communities. This website represents the first phase of the Church Steelpan Project and features an option for other church steelbands and steelpan players to participate in the project by submitting scores and video content. As such, the project has the potential to be a continually updated, equitable, and accessible worship music resource for countless church musicians globally, regardless of socioeconomic situation.

Portions of the Church Steelpan Project research were funded by a grant from the Association of Anglican Musicians during the 2022 grant cycle. Research for this project grew out of previous studies and fieldwork trips in Antigua begun in 2018; however, the primary work was conducted during 2021/2022 and in-country fieldwork was conducted in Antigua during Fall 2022/Spring 2023.

The Church Steelpan Project is ongoing and this website will expand and include content and resources from musicians from across the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora in North America. What to expect in the future? More video examples of steelpan playing demonstration of individual steelband voices, more scores for use in worship service, more video examples of steelpan introducing liturgy, introducing hymn tunes, and leading prayer responsorials.

Would like to contribute a video recording, audio recording, score, or photo to the Church Steelpan Project? Please contact project director Dr. Andrew Martin using the Contact page!