• The Steelpan Intsruments
• Making Steel Pans
• Pan Kaiso

• Types of Pan
• Panorama

The Steelpan Instruments

The steel drum, or "steel pan" as the instrument is called in Trinidad is an acoustic instrument invented in Trinidad this century. It is the only musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. The steel orchestra consists of an assortment of tenor and double tenor pans, double seconds, guitar pans, quads, cellos and bass pans. The instruments can make the musical sounds of an orchestra range and can span five octaves. A steel orchestra would contain up to 100 players using over 300 instruments producing 120 dB in the frequency range 50 Hz - 1.4kHz.

"Pan" is a significant part of the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. The music has evolved and the steel drummers (steelpan musicians) are skilled performers of calypso incorporating jazz and classical music.

In 1997, WITCO Desperadoes steel orchestra played with world tenor Luciano Pavarotti and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Barbados.
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Making Steel Pans

Making and tuning of the steelpans or steel drums require specialized skill, dexterity, an ear for harmony, good music and sound memory. The tools of the trade are a small tinker's hammer and a two-pound sledge, small hammer, metal punch, ruler, compasses and chalk.

The first step in making a steelpan involves choosing a steel drum. The instruments are made from forty-five gallon oil drums that are cut off at the bottom, and the top stretched by beating into a convex shape. This process is called sinking. The pans are sunk to specifications for tenors, double seconds quads and guitars, cellos and bass pans. This process stretches the steel, enlarging the surface to make space for the notes. The notes are transcribed and "seamed" with a hammer and cold chisel.

The next stage is called grooving, separating the notes from each other by grooving the borders of the notes.

Tempering or burning is the next stage to prepare the instrument for tuning.

After fine tuning, the steelpan is covered with a layer of zinc or chromium to protect the instrument from rusting. The tuning process is carried out manually by expert tuners primarily from Trinidad and Tobago. These experts tend to be experienced having a good ear in this time consuming skill and display a passion for listening and patience.

Almost all steelband music is of an aural tradition and even complex classical scores are learned aurally.
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Types of Pan

The rhythm section is comprised of the Bass pans. Bass pans are used to develop the frequencies of the orchestra and can be made up of anywhere from three to twelve bass instruments with each drum having three or four notes each. The tonal range can move from G1 to C4 to include a tenor bass.

Quadraphonics pan can range from B2 to Bb5, was invented by Rudolph Charles of West Indian Tobacco Desperadoes was primarily unique to the Desperadoes steel orchestra, but is now used by many other steel orchestras. Quads or four pans are used to share the harmony, play chords and some melody. Each drum can have six or seven notes each.

The Cello-pans have as many as nine notes each and are generally hooked in pairs to allow for chording. More recently there are triple and four cello-pans designed to increase the tonal range. The range for the cello-pans move from B b2 to C#5. They are used to add notes to the harmony, and to double the bass.

Guitar pans can have fourteen notes on each pan and can be played in pairs. The range moves from C#3 to C#4. Double guitars can be arranged with two guitar pans, hence double guitars. There are also treble guitars. Guitar pans are used to add notes to the harmony and also to share the harmony.

Tenor pans are the most highly regarded of all the instruments because of the skill, dexterity and command of the aural tradition required for playing the most prestigious instrument. The tonal range can start from F3 with the high tenor providing notes from D4 to G6. Tenor pans can be arranged from low tenors to double second and double tenor. The tenor pan is used to carry the melody; double tenors are also used to carry the melody, while the double second is used to play chords and some melody.

Steel bands from Trinidad and Tobago each have a unique sound and reflects the work of each individual band's tuner, arranger and captain/manager. The instruments are evolving with on-going discoveries in blending, tuning and arranging. The annual steelpan Panorama competions held in Trinidad during carnival showcases large steel orchestras from Trinidad and Tobago playing indigenous music specially composed for the steelpan. The leading steelpan music composer is Lord Kitchener - Aldwyn Roberts.

Based on an interview with Nathiel Balintulo, on understanding how individuals who are unable to read music can play classical music. "Steel orchestras have been playing classical music. Members of the better steel orchestras possess certain qualities. An innate knowledge of the instrument; a highly developed technique or even virtuosity on the pan; well developed aural skills; a great musical memory and an insatiable appetite for learning; and the discipline required to achieve the above. Pan men are devoted to their instrument."
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Panorama

It is the world cup of steelband competitions. For steelband musicians and pan enthusiasts from all over the world, Panorama is it! Panorama is an annual national event created over 30 years ago. The competition involves as many as fifty conventional steelbands. There are other competitions for non-conventional steelbands such as "pan round the neck" for approximately thirty three orchestras; Junior Panorama competition among fifteen school bands. Also, there are about fifty tuners, arrangers and composers from Trinidad and Tobago who compete for these prestigious prizes.

Carnival weekend, thousands of steelband musicians meet in the Queens Park Savannah for the competition. The competition is for steelbands/orchestras that qualify based on geographic zones and points received in playoff performances. For the serious steel drummers, the competition is an opportunity to compete against colleagues in the Queens Park Savannah where Panorama has become an obsession, almost a religion. Panorama can be described as a celebration of the steelpan.

Steelpan involvement in the culture of Trinidad and Tobago goes far beyond just the carnival event. Panorama is the culmination of months of musicians attending music practices and drills, that can average thirty hours per week; arrangers working with the selected musical scores excelling in melody, elegant lines and clever phrasing; and the steelpan tuners providing the finishing touches for the appropriate orchestras' tonal quality.

For the seriously competitive steelbands, this is an organized series of zonal competitions open to all steelbands in Trinidad and Tobago. The association, PanTrinbago that oversees the competition, has been around since the 1950's known then as the Steelband's Association and officially began to grow in 1960's. Pan Trinbago is run and structured by the steel drummers.

Some of the steelbands to qualify for the Panorama finals include: Arima NuTones, WITCO Desperadoes, Amoco Renegades, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars, PCS Starlift, Exodus, Fonclaire, Invaders, Phase II Pan Grove, Our Boys, Carib Tokyo, Melodians, Potential Symphony, Angel Harps, Deltones, Hatters, Solo Harmonites, Tobago All Stars, Pamberi, Sundowners and Birdsong. A large number of these bands have been participating in the competition for the past 20 years.

The interest in this steelband competition is increasing at a remarkable pace from steel drummers and pan enthusiasts located outside Trinidad and Tobago. Interest in "pan" is so intense that many women and men keep playing the instrument after the Panorama competition is over. Although only 20 percent of the musicians read music, the majority of players learn by rote and become skilled and competent pannists, performing at international events.
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