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CultureMusicSteelbandSaturday,February27,2010LoginSteelband

HistoricalDevelopment|MusicalInstruments|TheModernSteelband|PanPioneers|SteelbandCompetitions|SteelbandGlossary

HistoricalDevelopmentoftheSteelband

Introduction

ThesteelpanisthenationalinstrumentofTrinidadandTobago.Itistheonlymusicalinstrumentinventedinthetwentiethcentury.Createdinthe1930âs,thesteelpanowesitsgenesistothecarnivalfestivalsofthatera.Itemergedastheproductoftheenergyofthepeopledirectedtowardsculturalself-expression.Thesteelpanthereforebecameaculturalvehicleforgedfromthehistoricalandsocialconditionsprevailingatthattime.Itsdevelopmentwasmouldedbytheethnicinfluencesofourheritage.

HistoricalDevelopment

Carnivalcelebrationsinthelate1800âsweremarkedbydisturbanceswhichpromptedtheauthoritiestoprohibittheunlicensedplayingofallpercussion,

stringandwood-windinstrumentsbywayoflegalordinance.ThisledtothedevelopmentoftheTamboo-Bambooasamusicalinstrument.TheTamboo-Bamboowasmadefrombamboocuttovariouslengthsanditssoundwasproducedbystampingontotheground.Carnivalcelebrationsinthefivedecadesfrom1884tothelate1930switnessedthegrowingrhythmsofTamboo-Bamboomusicalensemblesinstreetprocessionswithaccompanyingbrassandstringinstrumentalbands.

Severalproblemswiththebamboomaterial,includingitstendencytosplintereasily,resultedinexperimentationwithothermaterialssuchasmetalcontainers,toproducevarioussoundeffects.Theseexperimentsresultedinthediscoveryofthesteeldrumsinceitprovedtobemoredurablethanother

materialandcapableofgreatertonalversatility.

Thisdrum,originallyusedtostorepetroleum,evolvedintothesteelpanbymakingcross-sectionscutintothe55-gallonmetalcontainer.Throughfurtherexperimentation,percussivesoundsofvariouspitcheswereproducedbyindentingandtemperingtheconcavemetalsurface.Thesteeldrumthereforewasusedinthecreationofwhatisknowntodayasthesteelpan,andalthoughtherehavebeenseveralcompetingclaimstoitsinvention,itisgenerallyacceptedthatthesteelpanwasfirstmadearound1939inTrinidadandTobago.

Carnivalof1940witnessedthefirstpublicappearanceofthesteelpanandithassinceevolvedthroughtheingeniousinnovationsofvariouscontributors.

Theseinnovationshaveresultedininstrumentsofdifferenttonalrangeswhichnowcomprisethemusicalensembleofthemodernsteelband.

ThesteelpanhasrisenfromthedeprivedurbantenementsofPort-of-Spainwhereitwasforged,toacceptanceandpromotionbytheinternationalcommunity.Whathasbroughtthisinstrumentforwardontotheworldstagewasthedevotion,talentandindustryofitsearlyfollowers.Thisisasignificantachievementinthefaceofthefinancialobstaclesanddisdainbysocietyforthethuggeryandviolenceonceassociatedwithit.

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MUSICALINSTRUMENTSOFASTEELBAND

Overthesixdecadesofitsexistencethesteelpanhasevolvedintoamusicalinstrumentofgreatversatility.Combinedintoitsownorchestracalledthesteelband,thesteelpancanbetunedtoplayvariousscaleswithinadiversearrangementsofmusic.Themodernsteelbandorsteelorchestracansuccessfullyreproducethecompositionsofpop,jazz,calypso,theworkofclassicalEuropeancomposersandothermusicalforms.

Alsoretainedfromthetamboo-bamboobandsintheevolutionofthemodernsteelbandistheâengineroomâorthepercussiveelementwhichallowsthebandtokeepitstiming.The'bottleandspoon',maracas(shac-shac)andvariousassortmentsofiron,makeuptheelementsoftheâengineroomâ.

STEELBANDINSTRUMENTSANDTHEIRFUNCTIONS

STEELBANDSECTIONS:

FRONTLINEPANS

Thetenorpansorfrontlinepansconsistsofthehightenor(soprano),lowtenor

anddoubletenor.Theseinstrumentsusuallycarrythemelodyofthebandandhavethehighestpitch.Thetenorpanhastheshortestskirtlength,islightweightandcan,ifneeded,bestrungaroundtheneck.

MIDRANGEPANS

Theguitars,quadrophonesandcellosareknownasthethemid-rangepans.Thechordsfromtheseinstrumentsareusedtosupportthemelodyplayedbythefrontlinepans.Thesingle,doubleandtripleguitarpansarethehighestinthissectionandareusedforstrumming.Thequadrophonesareasetoffourusedformelodyandharmony.

BACKGROUNDPANS

Thebackgroundpansarethebasses:thetenorbass,thesix-bass,9-bassandthehighbass.Thesearethelowestpitchedinstruments,andprovidetheharmonicandmelodicchordsforthesteelband.

Aconventionalsteelbandmayhaveupto120membersandinstrumentsinthefollowingcategoriesasillustratedbelow:

STEELPANorotherInstrumentTONALRANGEFrontlinePans

HighTenorSteelPan

28to30notes

Tonalrange:D4toD6LowtenorSteelPan

28to30notes

Tonalrange:C4andG6

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DoubleTenor

SteelPan

TonalRange:F#3âBb5Mid-RangePansGuitar

SteelPan

20notes:

Tonalrange:C3andG#4Quadrophones

SteelPan

36notes:

Tonalrange:B2andBb5.Cellos

SteelPanTripleCellCello:TonalRangeB2toC#5

FourCellCello:TonalRangeG2toD5BackgroundPans6-Bass

SteelPanSixpansof3-notes=18notes.

Tonalrange:A1andF3

9-BassSteelPanninepansof3-notes=18notes.

Tonalrange:G1-C4

12-BassSteelPanTwelvepansof3-notes=18notesTenorBassTonalrange:F2C4EngineRoomCongaDrumsTrapsetGuiro(scratcher)Iron(assorted)Toc-Toc

THEMODERNSTEELBAND

Theearlydevelopmentofthesteelbandtookplaceinthedecadesofthe1930and1940s.ThesteelpanwasfirstplayedstrungaroundtheneckoftheperformerandisoftenreferredtoasaTraditionalSteelbandor'Pan-Round-De-Neck.'Carryingthesteelpaninthismannerrestrictedtherepertoireofthebandtothelighterweightedinstruments.

Thegrowingneedformobilitygaverisetothedevelopmentoftheconventional

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steelbandwithitswheeled,andsometimescanopiedcarriages,whichwerepushedbyardentsupporters.Thesecarriagesarestillusedtodaybyconventionalbandswhichmaynumberupto120musiciansorpanmen.Somebandhowever,haveresortedtohavingtheircarraigespropelledbyheavydutyvehicles.

Theprogressionofthesizeofthemodernsteelbandandthemethodsusedtotransportthemhasbeenattainedthroughtheinspirationandcombinedeffortsofitsinnovators,andthosewhosupportanddirecttheartform,suchasthefabricators,musicians(panmenandpanwomen),pantuners,musicalarrangers,organizingbodiesandsponsors-whomakeupthepanmovementorindustry.Thiscombinationofeffortanddevotiondefinesthepresentversatilityofthesteelpanintheensembleofthemodernsteelband.

ORGANIZATIONOFASTEELBAND

Members

Atypicalsteelbandisnormallyledbyacaptainwho,inadditiontobeinganexperiencedplayer,haswell-developedmusicalinsightandability.Alargebandmayalsohavesectionleaderswhosejobistosupportthecaptainbypassingon

hisknowledgeandskilltotheothermembersoftheorchestra.

Instruments

Thecompositionofinstrumentsinatypicalsteelbandisgivenbelow,whichcanbeviewedbyclicking:

MUSICALARRANGEMENTANDCONDUCT

Atypicalsteelbandmusicalorchestracanreproducemelodiesfromvariousgenresofmusic.Onceacompositionorsonghasbeenwrittenorselectedforusebythe

steelband,themusicalarrangementbegins.Thismusicalarrangementinvolvesreproducingthemelodyofthechosenpieceofmusicbyadaptingittotheinterplayofthevarioussectionsofthesteelorchestra.

Inthecaseofthesteelpan,therearemusicalarrangers,whosetaskistodeterminetherangeofsoundfromthechosencomposition.Asteelorchestramayalsohaveamusicalconductor,whosetaskitistoharmonizetheindividualcharacteristicsofeachinstrumentfromthemusicalscore.

PANPIONEERS

Thelistofthosewhohavepioneeredinnovationsinthesteelpaniscomprehensive.Themostprominentonthatlistincludeindividualssuchas:

WinstonâSpreeâSimon,1930-1976

AresidentofJohnJohninPort-of-Spain,Winston'SpreeSimon'isfamousforhisroleinthedevelopmentofthe'pingpong'whichbecamethetenorpanoftoday.Hewasalsoaproficientplayeroftheinstrument,andshowcased,throughconcerts,thepossibiltiesoftheinstrument.Heheldperformancesbothlocallyandabroad,playingcalypsoesandclassicaltunes.Itisbelievedbysome,thathewastheinventorofthesteelpan.

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EllieMannette1927-

EllieMannetteisresponsiblefordevelopingtheconceptoftheconcavesinkingtothesteelpansurfaceratherthanconvex.Skilledwiththetenorpan,heisalsothecreatorofthedoubleseconds,aswellas,theconceptofhavingrubberattachedtotheendtotheplayingstick.HecurrentlyresidesintheUnitedStatesandisthefounderofasteelpanmanufacturingcompany.

OnlineResources:MannetteSteelDrums

OtherFamousPanPlayers,ComposersandArrangers:

EllieMannette

RayHolman

Ken"Professor"Philmore

JitSamaroo

Len"Boogsie"Sharpe

Jim"Boss"Wharton

AndyNarell

LiamTeague

RobertGreenidge

STEELBANDCOMPETITIONS

TheTrinidadandTobagoSteelbandAssociation,theprecursortothepresentrepresentativebodyPanTrinbago,wasestablishmentin1950.PanTrinbagowasformedtopromotethedevelopmentofthesteelbandasamusicalartform.Inthis

regard,from1950onwards,concertsandfestivalswereorganisedandheldforsteelbands.PanTrinbagoisnowtheofficialbodyrepresentingthelocalsteelbandindustry.

Startingin1963,thePanoramasteelbandcompetitionwasinauguratedasanannualpre-carnivaleventandtoday,ithasevolvedintothepremieresteelbandcompetitioninTrinidadandTobago.Opentoconventionalsteelbands,apreliminaryroundofcompetitionsisheldinfivedesignatedzonesthroughoutthecountrybeginninginJanuaryandcontinuingtotheweekendbeforecarnival.Duringthistime,steelbandsfromallzonesvieforsupremacy.Thegrandfinalofthecompetion,Panorama,isheldontheSaturdaybeforeCarnival,heraldinginSunday'sDimancheGrascompetitionandthegreatestshowonearth-Carnival

MondayandTuesday.

ForPanTrinbago'sofficiallistofPanoramawinners:

2005PanoramaWinners

AlsovisittheCarnivalChampionspagefordetailedlistsofvariouscompetitionwinnersfromasearlyas1932.

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Othersteelbandcompetitionsinclude:

JuniorPanoramacompetition,heldforsecondaryschoolssteelband

WorldSteelbandfestival:isab-ennialevent,itstartedin1998.LastheldinLongon,EnglandinAugust-October2004.ItwasheldundertheAuspicesofPanTrinbagoandthePanEuropeanandBritishAssociationofSteelbands.

TheJouvertBombCompetition-usuallyheldonCarnivalMonday,itfeaturessteelbandsdoingrapidtransitionsfromonemelodytoanother.

PanRamajay,heldeachyearinMay

PanJazzFestival,firstheldin1988,nowheldannuallyinNovemberofeachyear

STEELBANDGLOSSARY

BacchanalBacchanaldenotesthemerry-makingandnoisyconfusionofthoseengagedinanycarnivalactivity.

BigYard

SeeSavannah.

BottleandSpoonAâbottleandspoonâ,referstothemusicaleffectofaglassbottlebeingstruckwithametalspoon.Itisacommonelementintheengineroomofasteelband.

ChippingTheslowmincingshuffleofcarnivalrevellersfollowingtherhythmofmusicfromamobilesteelbandordisc-jockey.

DimancheGrasFrenchforGrandSunday'or'FatSunday':DimancheGrasistheSundaybefore

CarnivalMonday.TheCalypsoMonarchCompetitionandtheCarnivalkingandQueenCostumecompetitionareheldintheSavannahonDimacheGrasnight.

EngineroomThepercussionsectionofasteelbandwhichprovidesthetimingforthemusicalrhythm.

FlagWomanTheFlagWomanperformsanenthusiasticflag-wavingdanceduringtheliveperformanceofhersteelband.Thisenergetictaskwasformerlyperformedbyamale.

IronmanThe'ironman'isthevirtuosopercussionistintheengineroomofthesteelband.Hisenthusiasticrhythmicpoundingofmetalprovidestimingforthesteelbandmusicians.

LimeAlimeisanyinformalsocializingand/orrecreationinarelaxedenvironment.

NorthStand

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ThestandsonthenorthernsideofthestageattheQueensParkSavannahfavouredbythelessinhibited,andsometimesmoreunrulyaudiencebecauseofitsbacchanalatmosphere.

PanTrinbagoPanTrinbagoistheofficialbodywhichrepresentstheinterestsofthesteelbandmovement.

PanoramaHeldsince1963Panoramaisthepremieresteelbandcompetitionofthecarnivalseason.

PingPong

ThePingPongisanothernameforthetenorpanespeciallyintheearlystagesofitsdevelopment.RamajayToramajayistoimproviseonagiventuneincompetitionwithotherpannists.

SavannahTheQueensParkSavannah,alsocalledtheBigYard,isthevenueforthejudgingthemaineventsofcarnival:Panorama,ParadeoftheBandsandDimancheGras.

LocatedinPort-of-Spainitisapproximately199acresinarea.

SteelPanThesteelpanisthenationalinstrumentofTrinidadandTobago.Madefromdiscardedoildrums,itistheonlymusicalinstrumentinventedinthe20thcentury.

TambooBamboo

[French:'Tambour'fordrum].ThemusicalinstrumentmadefrombambootubesusedinCarnivalduringtheperiod1884tothe1930sbeforetheinventionoftheSteelPan.

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