Every region of the world has distinctive aspects that are native to a particular country and its culture. Steel pan music can be found all over the world, but is easily recognizable as a feature of the Caribbean. More specifically, the birth of the steel pan - or steel drum - is on the southern-most Caribbean island of Trinidad.
The 'pan' - as it is affectionately referred to on the island - was created in the 1930s, after a long period of experimenting with various metal objects to use as percussion instruments. This happened as a result of the African hand drums, which had been brought to the region during the slavery period - being banned by British rulers over half a century before. This had been an attempt to suppress festivities associated with Carnival.
Fifty-five-gallon oil drums were originally used as the starting point for the instrument. These drums were subject to excessive pounding and then polishing to become the instrument we now know. This hand-created method is still the most popular, even though there is another method using sheet metal to begin with. Being the only instrument created in C20, the pan is a permanent part of worldwide history.
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 different types of pan for various tones or pitches. The frontline pans are those that play the melody or counter melody in a song. These include the tenor pan and the double-tenor. Mid-range pans are used to play counter melodies as well as offer harmonies to the melodies of frontline pans. They include the guitar pan, cello pan and quadrophonic pan.
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.
The 'pan' - as it is affectionately referred to on the island - was created in the 1930s, after a long period of experimenting with various metal objects to use as percussion instruments. This happened as a result of the African hand drums, which had been brought to the region during the slavery period - being banned by British rulers over half a century before. This had been an attempt to suppress festivities associated with Carnival.
Fifty-five-gallon oil drums were originally used as the starting point for the instrument. These drums were subject to excessive pounding and then polishing to become the instrument we now know. This hand-created method is still the most popular, even though there is another method using sheet metal to begin with. Being the only instrument created in C20, the pan is a permanent part of worldwide history.
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 different types of pan for various tones or pitches. The frontline pans are those that play the melody or counter melody in a song. These include the tenor pan and the double-tenor. Mid-range pans are used to play counter melodies as well as offer harmonies to the melodies of frontline pans. They include the guitar pan, cello pan and quadrophonic pan.
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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