What is the history of the steel pan?
Steel pans (steel drums)were created on the Caribbean island of Trinidad in the 1930s, but steel pan history can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to the islands during the 1700s. They carried with them elements of their African culture including the playing of hand drums.
Who invented the steel pan and when?
The steelpan was invented in Trinidad and Tobago and is widely regarded as the only major musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century.
Where did the steel pan originate from?
Trinidad and Tobago
Steel Pan Drum/Place of origin
Who was credited for sinking the pan into a concave shape?
He was the first to use a 55-gallon oil barrel instead of biscuit tins or soap boxes. Furthermore, Mannette was the person to sink the top of the drum into a concave shape, thus having more space to place notes as well as achieving a better isolation between the different pitches.
Who has the patent for the steel pan?
No one holds a patent for the steelpan that originated in Trinidad in the early 1940s from the talents of many individuals, not all of whom may even be known. However, in January 2013, the Trinidad and Tobago government was granted a patent for the G-Pan with UWI engineer Dr Brian Copeland recognised as its inventor.
How was steel pan invented?
“It was a slow process, everyone got together and invented the steel pan by using pots and pans and testing them out,” says Sterling Betancourt, a Trinidadian panman who now lives in London. “The sound and the notes came, but it wasn’t like we thought about it.”
Who are SteelPan composers?
Notable pannists
- Ellie Mannette.
- Winston “Spree” Simon.
- Tony Williams.
- Ray Holman.
- Liam Teague.
- Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
- Rick Henson.
- Don Prorak.
What are the four sizes of steel pans?
If you are unfamiliar with the sections and instruments in the steelband, I strongly recommend you read more on the Steel Pan Family before proceeding.
- Solo Steel Pan.
- Quintets/Small Gig Bands.
- Small Steelband (up to 12 pans)
- Medium size steelbands (up to 20 pans)
- Large steelband (up to 30 pans)
What are the different types of steel pans?
There are several variations which make up the family of steelpans; Tenor, Double Tenor, Double Second, Double Guitar, Tenor Bass, Six Bass, there is even an E-Pan and a G-Pan!…What is a Steel Pan?
| SteelPan Types | Typical number of Notes | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Double Tenor | 32 | F3 – C6 |
| Double Second | 30 | F#3 – B5 |
| Double Guitar | 28 | Bb2 – C#5 |
| Tenor Bass | 20 | G2 – D4 |
When was steel pan invented?
1930s
The steel pan, often referred to incorrectly as a steel drum, emerged in the 1930s. Metal objects including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums and biscuit tins, were originally used as percussion instruments, but at some point they began to be tuned.
Who invented steel pans?
People such as Ellie Mannette, Winston “Spree” Simon, and Tony Williams are credited as pioneers of the steel drum, creating the 12 notes of the chromatic scale on a single pan. When Carnival celebrations resumed in Trinidad after World War II, the steel pan became an important part of the street festival.
Who is the best steel pan player?
Musician Andy Narell has made his name by coaxing tunes out of sawed-off oil barrels. He’s one of the best-known performers on the steel pan, also known as the steel drum.