The steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad.
First made from discarded oil drums when hand drums were banned under British rule, it is the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century.
Pans were originally informally pounded into a dish-like shape, tempered by fire, grooved, and tuned--until they were workable musical instruments. Now a standardized instrument, the tenor pan, or lead pan, carries the melody and can play 29 notes over 2.5 octaves in the higher register, while the newer G-Pan, originated at the University of the West Indies, can play 37 notes over 4 octaves. The pans need to be tuned every few months.
Pans were originally informally pounded into a dish-like shape, tempered by fire, grooved, and tuned--until they were workable musical instruments. Now a standardized instrument, the tenor pan, or lead pan, carries the melody and can play 29 notes over 2.5 octaves in the higher register, while the newer G-Pan, originated at the University of the West Indies, can play 37 notes over 4 octaves. The pans need to be tuned every few months.
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| pan musical instrument with standardized markings at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Trinidad |
pan yards in Port of Spain
Be sure to visit a pan yard for a performance that will knock your socks off. Look for posters around town advertising current performances.
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| Invaders perform at pan yard in Trinidad |
●Dan-Demonium
Pan player and song writer Kwesi Paul has been playing since he was 8 years old. Here you will see pans in various stages of formation.
●I saw the
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| Kwesi Paul at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Trinidad |
●I saw the
Invaders steel pan orchestra
and the
Les Coteaux Folk Performers calypso dancers
perform at another pan yard.
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| Darron Scotland of the Les Coteaux Folk Performers calypso dancers performs a delicate maneuver at a pan yard in Trinidad |
Jaffa
restaurant is just across street. Named for the play in cricket that is a perfect delivery, this Mediterranean restaurant is situated at the home of cricket in Trinidad. A British high tea with scones and clotted cream is served on Wednesdays.
Queens Park Oval, 94 Tragarete Rd., Level 2, (868) 622-6825.
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| bar at Jaffa restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad |
images and videos ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
I love the steel pan drummers and the way discarded drums have been put to good use. It's a skill that's different from other drummers. Steel pan drummers can also be found along Oxford Street and other high streets in London during Christmas. Thanks for sharing Carol.
ReplyDeleteBoy that brought back memories! My aunt and uncle and cousins lived in Trinidad and their accents were so strong sometimes I couldn't understand them! I never got to visit them but heard Trinidad was amazing. I also suddenly remembered I had a (kid's size" steel pan drum. It's such a unique sound and I love how more schools in Toronto actually have steel bands.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see and hear some of these.
ReplyDeleteI've heard some of those steel drums in Trinidad. It's amazing how they can get such a range of sound from them!
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of the steel drums. It would be so interesting to see them being made. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing the sounds one can get from a steep pan. Steel drum orchestras are such fun to listen to - always makes me feel good.
ReplyDeleteSo fascinating Carole and I'm floored to hear how many notes as well as the range these "simple" instruments can have. So much more or a talent than meets the eye at first sight. And thanks for sharing the links to hear some of this beautiful music!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this experience. I enjoy the sound of a good steel drum player and loved this story. Oh to be as limber as those dancers...
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