In his heart and soul, Mark Loquan was enthralled by music. He had boundless passion for our beloved steelpan. He was a gifted musician and composer of all kinds of music, most notably of songs for Panorama, which were played by many steelbands over the past 25 years.
But above all, he was a visionary who was committed to uplifting musicians and community members here in Trinidad and Tobago.
In one of his earliest compositions, “Another Time, Another Place”, written in 1999 almost as a prayer, Mark asked:
“So where would we be in the next century? I hope we have the will to learn from our history. And is there a new vision for the pan that will stand the test of time? Well, all I ask is for some new direction. Show us all a sign.”
Not only did Mark create a new vision—especially for pan—but he also offered several new directions through his various endeavours: The Music Literacy Trust, A Better Tomorrow series, and Panitation, just to name a few.
Mark’s passion for pan and music was matched only by his generosity of spirit.
Countless aspiring musicians tangibly benefitted from his actions. He mentored, he collaborated, he advocated, he uplifted.
In “Another Time, Another Place”, Mark asked:
“Where would we be in the next century?”
My response:
“We’d be in a much better place—where we’d be heavily influenced by Mark’s legacy.”
The baton is now passed from his hands to ours. Mark played his part superlatively well. He will live on—in his music and in every soul he inspired.
One legendary soul who also left a legacy of her own was Dr Pat Bishop. She was a close collaborator of Mark’s in all things steelpan.
Here, I leave you with her powerful words:
DR PAT BISHOP
“Mark set up the Music Literacy Trust all on his own. Nobody told him to do it. And I must confess that when he did set it up, I wondered why he had bothered, since it was clear that he was also going to bother me and people like me. But there was no way that you could tell him no.
And that is the first point that I want to make about Loquan. He is for real. He is not jiving you. He is not pulling the wool over your eyes. He’s not calling a six a nine. And more critically, he is not asking you to call a six a nine in order to make him comfortable.
In this town, that is a rare virtue.
I want to just read a little something. Of all the goodbyes I’ve heard, the Japanese word sayonara, which means ‘since it must be so’, is the most beautiful.
It doesn’t try to cheat itself by having any bravado. Sayonara says neither too little nor too much. It is a simple acceptance of the fact that all understanding of life lies in its limits. All emotion is banked up behind it.
It is the unspoken goodbyes. The pressure of a hand. Sayonara.”
Bishop, who received the country’s then-highest national award, the Trinity Cross, in 1995, passed away in August 2011. A recording of her tribute was played at Loquan’s funeral service at St. Finbar’s RC Church in Diego Martin on April 14.
Dr Mia Gormandy-Benjamin
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