Steel Pan's Language

When Steel Talks is an online platform and initiative that promotes the history and culture of the steelpan art form and the steelband community worldwide. The website features a vast library of multimedia content, including photographs, videos, audio recordings, and interviews with steelband innovators, inventors, and players. It also serves as a network forum for its 18,000 members worldwide to discuss all matters related to the steelpan instrument and art form. When Steel Talks highlights the genius and beauty of the steelpan, its music, and the people who play it. The platform also celebrates women in the steelpan art form, featuring a series of articles and interviews with female movers, shakers, and up-and-coming stars during Women's Month in March.

History of the steelpan

The steel pan (also known as a steel drum) is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the only instrument to be truly 'invented' in the 20th century, with its roots going back much earlier. The steel pan is made from industrial waste, such as oil drums, and has become an icon of Trinidadian culture.

The history of the steel pan can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to Trinidad and Tobago during the 1700s. These enslaved people carried with them elements of their African culture, including the playing of hand drums. The French colonists who arrived in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1780s brought street festival traditions, including the Carnival in 1785. Many white plantation owners mocked African slave dress, singing, and dance customs, including banging on talking drums. The enslaved Africans were not allowed to join the festivities and so organised underground Carnivals of their own, incorporating masks, feathers, beads, and drumming.

In 1834, slaves were emancipated in Trinidad and Tobago, however, segregation and indentured servitude continued. After emancipation, Africans annually celebrated Canboulay, a harvest festival involving calypso drumming. In the 1880s, stick-fighting and African percussion music were banned, and bamboo sticks beaten together, known as Tamboo-bamboo, were used as a replacement. However, by the mid-1930s, metal percussion was being used in the Tamboo Bamboo bands, and by the late 1930s, all-steel bands were seen at carnivals. These early metal pan bands were a combination of various metallic containers and kitchen utensils.

Through experimentation and trial and error, the metal pan bands evolved into the steel pan family of instruments. Several innovators have made significant contributions to the development of the instrument, including Winston 'Spree' Simon, who created the first 'melody pan', and Ellie Mannette, who was the first to wrap the playing sticks with rubber and to sink the surface of the pan into a concave shape.

By 1940, the steel pan had become the preferred carnival accompaniment of young underprivileged men, and in 1947, the 55-gallon oil drum was used to make steel pans. In 1951, the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing the steel pan and a new music genre to the world. Today, the steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and is a source of great pride for its citizens.

Women in steelpan

Women have faced significant cultural barriers to participating in steelpan music. In the early days of the steelpan in Trinidad, the instrument was associated with a "violent or derelict crowd", and it was considered unacceptable for women to be involved. The stigma was underpinned by the belief that women belonged in the home with the children, not out on the streets with the pan players.

However, as the instrument became more mainstream, the stigma subsided, and women were allowed to join steelpan bands. Today, women have made significant contributions to the world of steelpan music. For instance, "Sisters in Steel", a celebration of Women's Month, highlights the stories, voices, lives, dreams, and passions of female movers, shakers, and up-and-coming stars in the steelpan world.

One such woman is Amenti Quashie Francis from the United Kingdom, also known as "The Priestess of Pan". Francis successfully juggles every aspect of Pan—spiritually, mentally, and physically. In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, she shared her experiences as a panist, performing artist, teacher, and speaker. Another woman in steelpan is Sunity Maharaj from Trinidad and Tobago, who is also featured in the "Sisters in Steel" celebration.

Steelpan competitions

One of the most prestigious steelpan competitions is the Panorama competition, which is a highlight of the annual Trinidad and Tobago Carnival celebrations. The competition was inaugurated in 1963 and has been held every year since, except in 1979 when it was boycotted as a symbolic gesture of support for the steelband movement pioneer Rudolph Charles. The competition sees the country's best steel orchestras go head-to-head, playing specially arranged instrumental renditions of popular calypso or soca music tunes. The orchestras compete in small, medium, and large categories, with a single pan category and Panorama competitions for both primary and secondary schools.

In addition to the Panorama competition, there are several other steelpan competitions and festivals based in Trinidad and Tobago that are open to participants from around the world. These include the World Steelband Music Festival, the Trinidad and Tobago SteelPan and Jazz Festival, and Pan Ramajay.

Outside of Trinidad and Tobago, there are also international steelpan competitions and festivals, such as the French Panorama, which was won by the Calypsociation Sunday Steelband in 2024. Steelpan competitions and festivals are a global celebration of the steelpan art form and provide a platform for steelbands to showcase their talent and engage in friendly rivalry.

The steelpan as an art form

The steelpan, also known as the steel drum, is a percussion instrument that is a hallmark of the steelpan music genre. The instrument is made from a discarded oil drum that is beaten and moulded into the shape of a concave bowl. It is then divided into sections or notes that are struck with a mallet to produce a unique sound. The steelpan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, where it first originated in the early to mid-1900s.

The art of playing the steelpan involves using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber to strike the notes. Some musicians use four pansticks, holding two in each hand. The size and type of rubber tip vary depending on the class of pan being played. The steelpan can be played as a solo instrument or as part of a steel band or steel orchestra.

The steelpan has become a popular art form around the world, with major music festivals regularly featuring steelpan bands. The instrument is also commonly taught in schools as part of music education. The Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan Orchestra, founded in 1962, is one of the most famous steelpan groups and has toured the world, performing at major events such as the Olympics and the World Cup.

The process of building and tuning a steelpan is a complex art form in itself. It requires solid craftsmanship and an experienced ear to create an instrument that produces a lively and spirited sound. The unique convex-concave arrangement of oscillating tone fields that underlie compression is what gives the steelpan its distinctive sound.

The science and technology of the steelpan

The steelpan, also known as a pan or steel drum, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a melodic percussion instrument that produces a range of unique tones and is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

The science and technology behind the steelpan are intricate and fascinating. At its core, the steelpan is a marvel of acoustical engineering. When a mallet or stick strikes the surface of the steelpan, it sets off a series of complex vibrations that travel through the metal, creating sound waves that reach our ears. The shape and size of each note on the steelpan determine the frequency of these vibrations, which, in turn, determines the pitch of the sound produced.

The arrangement of notes on the surface of the steelpan, as well as the material and thickness of the metal, contribute to the instrument's distinctive timbre. Steelpan makers can carefully manipulate these variables to create instruments with varying tonal qualities, from bright and piercing to deep and resonant. This manipulation of partial tones is essential to achieving the spirited and lively sound that the steelpan is known for.

The process of manufacturing a steelpan is equally fascinating. Unlike most other musical instruments, steelpans are created by hammering and shaping discarded oil drums. This process, known as "sinking," involves heating and stretching the metal to achieve the desired shape and thickness. The notes are then laid out on the surface using a combination of precise measurements and artistic intuition. Finally, the instrument is tuned by hammering each note until it produces the desired pitch.

The science of steelpan manufacturing showcases the ingenuity and skill of craftspeople who can transform humble oil drums into world-class musical instruments. It involves a deep understanding of materials science, acoustics, and music theory. The unique sound of the steelpan has even captured the attention of acoustical engineers and researchers, who study the instrument to better understand its properties and potential applications in various fields.

In conclusion, the steelpan is not just a musical instrument but also a scientific marvel. Its science and technology involve a complex interplay of physics, acoustics, and manufacturing processes. By understanding these aspects, we can unlock new possibilities for creativity, discovery, and innovation in the world of music and beyond.

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