Steel Pan Sunset Soothing

When the sun goes down, the steel pans come out. Originating in Trinidad and Tobago, the steelpan (also known as a steel drum) is a musical instrument made from 55-gallon industrial drums. It is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber and is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Steelpans have been used in jazz fusion by players such as Dave Samuels, Othello Molineaux, and Jonathan Scales. They have also been featured in the Broadway musical House of Flowers.

The history of the steel pan

The steel pan, also known as the steel drum, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the early to mid-1900s. However, its history goes back much earlier, with roots in the talking drums of West African cultures. These drums were used for long-distance communication, with rhythm and pitch indicating details about an upcoming ceremony, such as location, time, and type of dancing.

In the 18th century, people from West Africa were forcibly abducted and sold at slave auctions in Trinidad. To suppress their traditions, people from the same tribes were separated and sold to different enslavers, and they were forbidden from speaking their native tongues. Despite these oppressive measures, enslaved Africans resisted by preserving their traditions within Christian holidays. For example, on Sundays, they would dress up and attend drum dances held away from the plantations.

After emancipation in 1834, Africans in Trinidad and Tobago celebrated Canboulay, a harvest festival involving calypso drumming. In 1881, the Canboulay riots led to a ban on stick-fighting and African percussion music. Bamboo sticks were used as a replacement but were also eventually banned.

In the 1930s, steel pans re-emerged in Laventille, this time in the form of an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids, and oil drums. These steel pans became a major part of the Trinidadian music scene and were particularly popular among young, underprivileged men. The first all-steel band, Alexander's Ragtime Band, was formed in 1939.

The 55-gallon oil drum, which is used to make steel pans, was introduced around 1947. The Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) was the first steel band to use only oil drums as their instruments. They performed at the Festival of Britain in 1951, introducing the steel pan and a new genre of music to the world.

Over time, the steel pan gained wider acceptance, and it is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. The United Nations General Assembly even declared August 11 as World Steelpan Day in 2023. The instrument has continued to evolve, with innovators like Winston 'Spree' Simon, Ellie Mannette, Anthony Williams, and Bertie Marshall making significant contributions to its development.

How to play the steel pan

Playing the steel pan, also known as the steel drum, may look easy, but there are techniques to master if you want to play complex pieces. The steel pan is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago and is now the country's national instrument. It is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55-gallon industrial drums.

To play the steel pan, the instrument should be hung at approximately waist height. If it is too low, you will have to bend over to play it, which can cause backache. If it is too high, you will lose the natural position of your arms, which will make it difficult to play.

Stand with your feet firmly planted on the floor, with your weight evenly balanced between them. If you stand with most of your weight on one foot, that foot may start to ache if you play for a long time. Make sure you are standing at a distance from the steel pan that allows you to play every note without your body resting against it. Your elbows should be kept slightly away from your body so that you can move freely.

To grip the pan mallet, hold your thumb and index finger at a pivot point roughly one-third from the end of the mallet. The mallet should balance between these two fingers, which should form an approximate 90-degree angle. If you are holding the mallet correctly, if it is pulled from your hand, your thumb should drop into the second segment of your index finger. Curl your index finger around the mallet without gripping it too tightly. The remaining three fingers should also loosely curl around the mallet. Do not grip the mallet too tightly, as this will inhibit the flexibility that is required for good playing technique.

Famous pannists

The steelpan, also known as a pan or steel drum, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Here are some of the most famous pannists:

Len "Boogsie" Sharpe

Considered a living legend in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world, Sharpe has achieved cult status in the pan community for writing and arranging countless pieces that many consider modern works of art. His composing and arranging skills are matched by his virtuosity as a soloist, with a dazzling ability to play incredibly fast and create rich, harp-like pieces by self-accompaniment. Some of his most popular songs include "Sarah", "Cryin", "Woman is Boss", and "More Love". Sharpe is also known for his work as an arranger for Phase II Pan Groove, one of the most famous steel bands in the world.

Jit Samaroo

Samaroo, lovingly known as "Dr. Jit", is considered one of the most prolific and successful arrangers of all time. His sound incorporated elements of classical music, with complex countermelodies and syncopation incorporated throughout the arrangements by the guitar and double second sections. Under Samaroo's direction, Renegades won Panorama nine times. Some of his most popular arrangements include "Iron Man", "Mystery Band", "Pan Rising", and "Somebody".

Ray Holman

Known for his "sweet" steelpan sound, rich harmonies, and no-nonsense approach to the art form, Holman is recognised for constantly pushing the steelpan to new heights. As the first person to write an original piece for Panorama with "Pan On the Move" in 1972, he broke down barriers and inspired many others to write original pieces for the contest. Holman's musical style is characterised by long, flowing melodic arcs with complex chord progressions. Some of his popular pieces include "Penny Lane", "Pan Woman", "Carnival Woman", and "Celebration".

Ken "Professor" Philmore

"Professor" Philmore was known for his fast-paced arrangements, exciting solo playing, and positive demeanour. He enhanced the steelpan movement through his innovative style with arrangements like "Pan by Storm", "Pan Ecstasy", and "Woman on the Bass". As the arranger of Fonclaire Steel Orchestra, Philmore led the group to victory at Panorama. He was also the chief arranger and composer for the popular album, "Pan Jazz 'N' Calypso".

Ellie Mannette

Regarded as the "Father of the Modern Steelpan Instrument", Mannette is considered one of the founding fathers of the steelpan. He is known for his continuous innovation with the instrument, pushing the boundaries of what was possible throughout his career. Mannette is credited with using a discarded oil barrel to build a steelpan and inventing several instruments in the steelpan orchestra, including the Invader Lead (Soprano), Double Second (Alto), and Tenor Bass. He formed his own band, The Oval Boys, in the late 1930s and travelled to Great Britain with TASPO (Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra) in 1951. Mannette received numerous accolades for his contributions to the development of the steelpan, including the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the NEA in 1999 and the Chaconia Medal from Trinidad in 2000.

Robert Greenidge

Greenidge is possibly the most recorded pannist in history in terms of appearances on chart-topping pop albums. He has been featured on albums by Earth, Wind & Fire, Ringo Starr, and Carly Simon, as well as hit singles such as "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington Jr. and "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" by John Lennon. Despite his commercial success, Greenidge has continued to work in Trinidad and Tobago, winning twice with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra in the Panorama competition with his original compositions.

The evolution of the steel pan

The steel pan (also known as a steel drum) is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the early to mid-1900s, with roots in the talking drums of West African cultures. The history of the steel pan can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to Trinidad and Tobago in the 1700s. They carried with them the playing of hand drums, which became the main percussion instruments in the annual Trinidadian carnival festivities.

In the 1800s, the British colonial government banned the playing of drums in an effort to suppress aspects of Carnival that were considered offensive. Bamboo stamping tubes, known as tamboo bamboo, were used to replace hand drums as they produced a similar sound when struck. These tubes were played in ensembles called tamboo bamboo bands, which also incorporated non-traditional instruments such as scrap metal, metal containers, graters, and dustbins.

By the 1930s, metal percussion instruments began to dominate the tamboo bamboo bands, eventually replacing the bamboo tubes. These early metal pan bands were a combination of various metallic containers and kitchen utensils that were struck with open hands, fists, or sticks. Through experimentation and trial and error, the metal pan bands evolved into the steel pan family of instruments.

The first steel pans were created from a variety of metal objects, including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums, and biscuit tins. Over time, these objects began to be tuned, creating the distinctive dents that produce the different notes of the steel pan. The use of 55-gallon oil drums to create steel pans became common around 1947, and by the 1950s, the steel pan had gained exposure beyond Trinidad and Tobago, with performances in Britain and the United States.

Today, the steel pan continues to evolve, with advancements in tuning techniques and the exploration of new methods of shaping and manufacturing the instrument. The steel pan has become an iconic symbol of Trinidadian culture and is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, shedding its early associations with lawlessness and violence and gaining mainstream acceptance.

Steel pan competitions

One of the most prominent steel pan competitions is the Panorama competition, which is considered the most prestigious title in steel pan music. The competition was inaugurated in 1963 and has been held annually since, except for 1979 when it was boycotted to show support for the steel band movement pioneer Rudolph Charles. The Panorama competition features steel bands playing a specially arranged instrumental rendition of a popular calypso or soca music tune. Bands compete in small, medium, and large categories, and there is also a single pan category and Panorama competitions for primary and secondary schools.

Another notable competition is the World Steelband Music Festival, held intermittently in Trinidad since 1964. During this festival, steel bands perform a test piece, a piece of their choice, and a calypso of their choice in a concert-style venue. In 2024, the Renegades Steel Orchestra and the Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra tied for first place in the Panorama competition, making Renegades the band with the most national Panorama titles.

Frequently asked questions