Wherever you go in the world, you will find that every country and culture has certain features that are unique to that part of the region. Even though you may hear steel pan music in all corners of the globe today, you would still be able to attribute it to the Caribbean first and foremost. In fact, the steel drum, which is another name for it, was born in Trinidad, which is the island found in the very south of the Caribbean.
Commonly known as simply 'pan', it was created during the '30s, after over half a century of experimentation and development of metal objects as percussion instruments. When slaves came from Africa, they brought with them the hand drum, and this was banned in the 1870s. This was a feeble attempt by the then British rule to try and quell celebrations around Carnival time.
The drum was originally created using huge 55-gallon oil drums. These were pounded and polished to created the instrument as we know it today. This method is still one of the most widely used methods to make the steel pan, thought sheet metal as a starting point is also used. This is the only instrument to be invented during the 20th century, putting it in the history books forever.
You can play the pan by itself, or combine many into a steel band. The music features mainly around Carnival, and there are lots of competitions and other events where bands are pitted against one another to show off their skills. As a spectator, you can experience the energy of the rhythm up close and personal by listening to it live.
Even though the instrument is primarily used to celebrate Trinidad's own musical genres of calypso and soca, it has been used across the board in music. Pop music, jazz, reggae and Latin have all been subjected to the influence of the pan. Even rapper 50 Cent has used a sample of the instrument in his billboard hit "P. I. M. P.". Because of its global reach, there has been much debate about which country can really claim the instrument.
There are various pan types for different pitches, or tones. Those pans found in the frontline section play the melodies and counter melodies because they have the highest pitch. These are namely the tenor and double-tenor pans. In the mid-range, the quadrophonic, cello and guitar pans play harmonies and also counter melodies.
The 4-note bass pan and the dudup are those that have the lowest pitch, and so they are located in the background section. They support with the bass line to drive the beat for the entire band. Other instruments of a percussive nature are used in steel bands, and these are found in a section labeled the engine room.
Individuals credited with the development of the pan as we know it include Ellie Mannette, Winston Simon and Anthony Williams. Williams was the first person to begin creating instruments out of huge oil drums, and he also created the pan layout known as the 'spider web', which is conducive to a better-sounding quality. Simon is the creator for the 8-pitch melody pan, while Mannette was the first to wrap sticks used to play pan in rubber, thereby creating a more refined sound.
Commonly known as simply 'pan', it was created during the '30s, after over half a century of experimentation and development of metal objects as percussion instruments. When slaves came from Africa, they brought with them the hand drum, and this was banned in the 1870s. This was a feeble attempt by the then British rule to try and quell celebrations around Carnival time.
The drum was originally created using huge 55-gallon oil drums. These were pounded and polished to created the instrument as we know it today. This method is still one of the most widely used methods to make the steel pan, thought sheet metal as a starting point is also used. This is the only instrument to be invented during the 20th century, putting it in the history books forever.
You can play the pan by itself, or combine many into a steel band. The music features mainly around Carnival, and there are lots of competitions and other events where bands are pitted against one another to show off their skills. As a spectator, you can experience the energy of the rhythm up close and personal by listening to it live.
Even though the instrument is primarily used to celebrate Trinidad's own musical genres of calypso and soca, it has been used across the board in music. Pop music, jazz, reggae and Latin have all been subjected to the influence of the pan. Even rapper 50 Cent has used a sample of the instrument in his billboard hit "P. I. M. P.". Because of its global reach, there has been much debate about which country can really claim the instrument.
There are various pan types for different pitches, or tones. Those pans found in the frontline section play the melodies and counter melodies because they have the highest pitch. These are namely the tenor and double-tenor pans. In the mid-range, the quadrophonic, cello and guitar pans play harmonies and also counter melodies.
The 4-note bass pan and the dudup are those that have the lowest pitch, and so they are located in the background section. They support with the bass line to drive the beat for the entire band. Other instruments of a percussive nature are used in steel bands, and these are found in a section labeled the engine room.
Individuals credited with the development of the pan as we know it include Ellie Mannette, Winston Simon and Anthony Williams. Williams was the first person to begin creating instruments out of huge oil drums, and he also created the pan layout known as the 'spider web', which is conducive to a better-sounding quality. Simon is the creator for the 8-pitch melody pan, while Mannette was the first to wrap sticks used to play pan in rubber, thereby creating a more refined sound.
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