STEEL PAN TO THE WORLD

I really believe in the power of music-and I mean literally the power of musical tones-to rearrange the way we can think.
                                                                      -Michael Azerrad


The Caribbean is a beautiful place don't you agree? We should appreciate it more, people pay thousands of dollars to live like us for just one week, I don't know about you, but I feel pretty good right now. Think about it, everyday we wake up to tropical breezes, the smell of rich, home cooked food, a little bacchanal now and then, when you're talking to the neighbor. We can visit the beach anytime we feel like it, plan river limes and monthly hikes, weekend excursions and backyard jams. We live in the lands of Carnival and Crop Over, of Calypso and Reggae of Soca and Steel Pan.

Oh yes, the sweet steel pan, the voice of the Caribbean. The sounds of the steel pan are unmistakable, but amazingly enough, many Trinidadians and Tobagonians don't really like it that much. That's unfortunate though, the steel pan has the ability to invoke some serious rhythmic power within you, you feel it in your bones...pan lovers, you know what I'm talking about. Well I'm not going to convince anyone to like steel pan music. No, not gonna do that at all...

What I am going to do is give you some cool facts about the steel pan you probably didn't even know. You know, things you don't know about steel pan, facts about it...that you didn't know. I'm talking to you, yeah you, Trinbagonian, I'm going to tell you things you probably don't know about your own N-a-t-i-o-n-a-l  I-n-s-t-r-u-m-e-n-t.

So let's go!

• The steel pan is the second youngest instrument in the world, second only to the hang drum; an instrument inspired by the steel pan.

• Though loved now, in the 1930's when steel pan was first created by the lower class, it was not well accepted and looked down upon by the upper class. 

• Rival Street Bands would often end in violent encounters, causing the steel pan to be referred to as the instrument of hooligans.

• In 1951, the first steel band, The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra, played at the Festival of Britain with rusty steel pans. The people not knowing what to expect from the rusty instruments, loved the sound it produced and referred to it as black magic.
  

• Although still made by hand by very few using old oil drums, today, steel pan is made from steel and manufactured both locally and internationally.

• It's the only percussive instrument to be made of steel.

• Steel pans are made in family groups; tenor pans, bass pans and rhythm pans.

• The largest steel pan in the world is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records and measures 104 cm in width and 84 cm in height. It was created by Trinidadian Jomo Wahtuse.

• It is always associated with holidays and sunshine, giving it it's internationally appeal.

• While traditionally the pan is played with two pan sticks, many locals have perfected playing with four, such as Earl Rodney, Jason Baptiste and Kyle Noel, all from south Trinidad. 

Earl Rodney

Jason Baptiste

Kyle Noel

• Every year, countries such as Switzerland, Japan and Sweden host Steel Pan festivals in celebration of the steel pan, while in trinidad, the steel pan is only featured once per year at Carnival celebrations.

• Steel pan has been in the world of Pop music for a long time. It made appearances in the songs, "Just The Two Of Us," written by Trinidadian Ralph McDonald and sung by Grover Washington Jr. and," Side By Side," by Earth Wind and Fire featuring Robert Greenidge. 

• You can hear the steel pan being featured on "New Position," by Prince, "Jumanji," by Azalea Banks, "Jane Says," by Jane's Addiction, "Me And The Rhythm," by Selena Gomez, "Rum Is The Reason," by Toby Keith and most recently, "Close" by Nick Jonas.

Now why can't we do that?

• Although there are many great things surrounding the steel pan, there's also one, not so great thing, a complete pan shocker. Two Americans, George Whitmyre and Harvey J. Price, have successfully patented the production of the steel pan. Horrible news I know...if only the Trinidad and Tobago government had thought about it before those guys...hmm, maybe new found cultural heroes, Ansa Mcal can drop in like...

Don't just stop here, look for more information about our beloved steel pan. The rest of the world is mesmerized by it because they've experienced it. Unfortunately we have to wait once a year to lose ourselves in the magic that is steel pan, and I must admit, the treatment of Panorama could improve in terms of creativity and image, but the sweetness of the steel pan is undeniable. If it wasn't, why would it attract the world?

My culture is my identity and personality. It gives me spiritual, intellectual and and emotional distinction from others and I am proud of it.

                                                        - M.F. Moonzajer