· STEEL PAN. FRUIT OF THE NEED AND THE INGENIOUS OF A PEOPLE

STEELPAN evolved from musical practices during the colonial era in Trinidad and Tobago. Since the descendants of slaves, taken to the antilles during the colonial era, began to enjoy a certain freedom (at the end of the 19th century), they wanted to reflect their cultural heritage at local festivals, using percussion as a form of communication between the ethnic groups participating in the traditional European festivals held in Trinidad and Tobago (which do not get their independence from Great Britain until 1962) as the carnivals or "mardi gras" celebration of French influence and canboulay (harvest party) currently celebrated on Friday of Carnival on the island. The encounters between different ethnic groups, was the trigger of confrontations that were often very violent so the British colonial government in 1783 banned the use of traditional instruments that each group used in their parades and meetings. The two most important influences were the drum traditions of Africa and India. The invention of the instrument (steel pan) was therefore a specific cultural response to the conditions present on the island that, given the need to make music, led it to seek new resources, creating as a new alternative the use of tamboo-bamboo, reeds large diameter bamboo, two segments one long and another short one, which is stamped on the floor by the "mouth" of the longest segment, while they played with a stick for the shell of the upper segment, forming bands distributing the rhythmic voices between them.But the clashes continued and this time the government went beyond the prohibition of these instruments, the bamboo fields were razed to the point of almost making it disappear from the island. Tamboo-bamboo bands were also added the sounds of a bottle hit with a spoon that then in the mid-1930s were included the metallic sounds like the "brake" car brake, and the drum "boom" of cookie. The first replaced the sound of the bottle and the second the "low" bamboo that was hit on the ground. Once again, the imagination of a people that was looking for a way of expression found alternative objects to those that had been banned until now, cans of all sizes, biscuit boxes and other metallic objects that gave the base of the first steel bands, and could not to be otherwise once again began the clashes and fights and it is said that in one of these battles someone emptied the contents of a barrel, cut in half to the function of paper bin and started hitting to get the attention of his people and stop the fight. They say that everyone who had a barrel by hand emptied it and to touch! "The invention" began to be used everywhere leaving the streets without barrels for garbage.

According to the story that Wistom "Spree" Simon had a barrel, which he lent and came back with bruises, in an attempt to return the original shape to the surface of the barrel, it was convex and he discovered that the most marked dents produced "notes", which then tried to fine tune.
Here it all begins, In Laventille, a neighborhood located in the hills near Port of Spain, capital of the islands in Trinidad. Immediately the barrels multiplied with between two and four notes and were incorporated into the steel bands.

It appeared by then (in the late 40's) Ellie Mannette, and thought that we had to sink the surface, making it concave and defining on this up to 8 notes of a diatonic scale, were the first "steel drums". From that moment the amount of notes in the same barrel increased and began to consider how to distribute them.

The fashion spread and the musicians were busy building metal pots with everything they had. The rise of the oil exploitations on the island left landfills full of barrels, and in 1946 a musician took a barrel of 55 galleons to which he "dented" the surface to be able to play musical notes on it. He managed to incorporate a total of 14 notes that soon afterwards incorporated drumsticks (small clubs to hit) and the instrument began to take shape.

The STEELPAN continued to evolve until they were built in various sizes and different shades. A specific and quite complex construction technique was developed. A new instrument was born, fruit of necessity and ingenuity, which would eventually become a symbol of the traditional Caribbean culture.
With these rudimentary steel drums they could already play simple songs and, at the same time, the need to extend the range grew, to reach higher or lower tessitura and to be able to reproduce the popular music of the island: the Calypso. Currently it has overcome borders and is used in different countries and musical styles.

INNOVATIVE STEEL PAN

Throughout the history of steelpan several innovators have contributed to the development of the instrument as for example

Wintom "spree" Simon

He is credited with creating the first melodic "steel pan" composed of eight notes capable of playing a complete melody

Ellie Mannette

Anthony Williams

Bertie Marshall

Accredited with the invention of "double tenor" bread. He also recognized the negative effects of the sun on the steel pan and was the first to place the awnings on the instruments when they were played outdoors.

LIMITATIONS OF STEEL PAN

Despite the achievements and the hard work of the innovators, the modern "steel pans" still have some limitations.
For example
• Most have a limited range compared to other instruments (approximately 2 1/2 octaves)
• Higher notes from front-line sources do not sound as good as lower notes
• The serious instruments are large, difficult to transport and take up a lot of space
• Some musical effects such as staccato (a separate style of playing) are difficult to achieve in steelpan.
Steel Pan is a work in progress. Manufacturers of pans around the world are constantly researching ways to improve and refine the instrument.

SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE STEELPAN

In the decade of 1930 when the instrument appeared it was not seen very seriously and on the contrary the creators and the instrument were despised by the upper class of the trinity society since they were created and executed by the ghettos and used by the hooligans in their violent actions.
Time and exposure eventually eroded this stigma and steel pan is now the national instrument of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and a source of great pride for its citizens. Steel Pan and its innovators are now held in high esteem by people of all levels of society in Trinidad and Tobago

STEEL BAND

TYPES OF STEEL DRUM

The musical possibilities of the nascent formations posed the challenge of being able to perform any musical style, even classical music.
It was possible to take advantage of the barrel to the maximum although a single barrel was limited to get low tessitura since the size of the notes is greater the more serious is the note. Thus we have "TENOR" simple barrels of 29 notes for the highest tessitura, more than two octaves, and multiple barrels for the "BASS" section with only three notes per barrel. There are double steel drums (two barrels per instrument) of three types that go down from the "DOUBLE TENOR" to the "DOUBLE GUITAR", triple steeldrums that make the function CHELLO or LOW and sextuples or more barrels, to cover the "BASSES"record

TENOR

Based on Ellie Mannette's original design, the Invader, or Low Lead, is well known for its versatility and is used by the world's top professional performers such as Andy Narell, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Ray Holman, Robert Greenidge and Tom Miller . . The sonority of the Invader Lead is unique in its purity of tone and works as an excellent solo instrument. The range of the instrument C4-F6.

DOUBLE TENOR

Created by Bertie Marshall, the Double Tenor is unique in its tonal quality. This instrument is tuned with a brighter tone than the Double Second and is an essential voice in the steel orchestra. The double tenor reinforces the melodic lines often in a lower register than the main voice. With a strong and cutting tone, it also complements the harmonies and rhythms of the Double Second. The range of the instrument is F3-D6

DOUBLE SECOND

The most versatile instrument in the family of steel bands, Double Second is an excellent solo instrument or ensemble. Based on the original full-tone design of Ellie Mannette, this pattern is executed by almost all professionals. With its quality of warm and dark tone, this instrument is used to "comp" chords, bring the melody or solo. The Double Second is the most prolific and elegant instrument of the steel band family. The range of the instrument is E3-F6

TRIPLE GUITAR

Based on the standard pattern of diminished chords designed by Mannette, the Triple Guitar is the main accompaniment instrument of the steel orchestra. Tuned with a darker tone than the Triple Cello, the Triple Guitar has a sombre and disturbing tonal quality. With its forceful character, the triple guitar has the same purpose as a rhythmic guitar to complete the record of the medium. The range of the instrument is B2-C # 4

BASS

ORDER OF THE STEEL DRUM IN THE STEELBAND

The invader lead is one of the oldest tenors steelpan (soprano) It was invented by Ellis Mannette who was the captain, tuner and steelpan builder of the Invaders Steel Orchestra. Usually the order of steelpan in a steelband would be Lead (tenor, soprano bread) double tenor, double second, guitar pan, cello bread and bass or base.

STEELPAN SYNTHESIZED E- PAN

SALMON E. CUPID. the inventor and patent holder of the first and only electronic synthesized steel pan (E-PAN), born and raised in the republic of trinidad and tobago comments that his invention was the product of a need to give the public a better quality of sounds of steel pan when it is performed outdoors, and in recording sessions, this idea was conceived in its youth more than 25 years ago, which materialized with the delivery of a very versatile product for the steelpanistas who enjoy their sonorous timbres, that could vary for the purpose of metal instruments or others and also has a high range of sounds (13) octaves. Currently the steelpan community is proud and enthusiastic about the achievements obtained with this instrument that has crossed borders being recognized by international communities the success achieved that enhances the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, EL STEELPAN