The evolution of Pan
The E-Pan
Pan has always been the source of enjoyment and revelry among the citizens of T&T, and now with the evolution of the E-Pan the enjoyment is heightening. Imagine standing in front of a mammoth crowd engrossed in a musical competition of steel. The crowd swaying, the performers dancing, and the pan’s glaze from the lights reflection, make things come alive. Having winning songs such as; Woman on the Bass (All Stars), Battle Zone (Silver Stars) or even Musical Vengeance (Phase II), all played on the E-Pan. This is just a small imagery where pan can lead in the near future. Salmon Cupid, the inventor of the E-Pan, is an Ambassador for T&T, and a Canadian based, Trinidadian born pan teacher. He has played with bands such as St Augustine Senior Comprehensive Steel Orchestra (The Green Machine), and Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra.
Even before Cupid began playing pan, he realized it was somewhat of a challenge to generate a good acoustic sound from pan bands, when accompanied by a microphone. He then set out to bridge that gap; not knowing how and when it will be done, but having the foresight of this invention. “Turning the traditional steel pan into an electronic format involved a lot of circuitry and a computer, which was built from scratch. Pan tones are just one of the tones that the E-Pan is capable of producing, and a lot of software had to be written. The E-Pan is just an electronic version of the steel pan,” Cupid said in an interview with Gayelle the channel. “The E-Pan can play any particular tone from different musical instruments, such as the Violin, Guitar, Trumpet, Piano etc. It changes octave, and has an octave control switch and pedal which allows the player to go up to Tenor and down to bass.
“Before, pan sticks were required to play the traditional steel instrument; most players used two sticks while those that were more skilled used four. Now with the E-Pan you can simply use your hands,” he explained. “You can also use headsets to avoid disturbing other pannist, while you improve your craft silently. Therefore, in a classroom setting, you can have a complete orchestra and the teacher who can also wear a headset will be hearing everyone. The E-Pan has the capability of the player pressing a button on the instrument to access different tones of tuners of their chioce. This feature allows for our tuner’s steelpan tone and colour to be preserved,” he added. “The invention of the E-Pan is a historical step, in the history of our national instrument and T&T, and was not designed as a replacement, but as an addition to the family of the traditional steel pan.
The device is a technological master piece, and it will revolutionize the way steel pan is learnt. The pan which is not made of steel but mostly rubber padding is an electronic mirrored version of the traditional steel pan. With years of trials and tribulations, the E-Pan which was a 25year old idea, from Mr. Cupid, is now complete and patented worldwide. One of Cupid’s biggest aims and objectives is to put Steelpan on the map on a larger scale. His dream is to see steelpan receive Grammys. Since developing the E-Pan, he has also been able to use his invention as a platform to encourage young people to pursue their dreams. Cupid has done production versions for the Tenor E-Pan and the Double Seconds E-Pan and at present is working on the Double Guitar E-Pan.
Replies
Then there are many pretenders....
ESD > http://www.electricsteeldrums.com/MyWay1.wmv
PHI-pan > https://www.youtube.com/phiteamvids#p/a/EC55926431E34342/0/sNwasCI5b1s
panKAT > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYearIXk2gQ&feature=related
When anyone examines the history of the steelpan instrument in the context of any musical instrument, the creativity and innovation contributed by the people of Trinidad & Tobago is clear.
The steelpan is an acoustic musical instrument indigenous to that nation which remains to this day, the only such invention of the 20th century and with the dawn of this new 21st century and millennium it manages to retain that title.
The inception of the steelpan can be traced back to the 1930's. Since then and throughout the decades, the "cause célèbre" has witnessed advancement through numerous innovations. Considering the track record and history of most musical instruments, to accomplish that much is such a relatively short period of space and time is a remarkable testament to the talents, skills and creativity of the people of T&T.
Whether we look to the past and/or to the evolution of the instrument, the journey continues in the immortal words of the Jacob Miller song, Forward Ever, Backward Never.
Alas, one this is for certain since the advent of the steelpan, more-or-less (depending on your point-of-view) than a quarter century ago, Salmon Cupid had an epiphany and the idea of the e-pan was born.
In my mind, what is needed now to advance the cause of the steelpan movement is for all Pan Fans as enthusiast the world over is to advocate the "authorities" (PanTrinbago) to lobby all relevant organization so the "the steelpan sound" of the master tuners can be recorded and digitalized sooner than later (when they have sadly passed on) for now and the future.
Respect...
The E-pan and also the PHI are Synthersizers made in the shape and formation of certain aspects of the steel pan instruments. I think these new innovation are spectular but are by no means replacements for the Steel Pan instrument.
THE PHI IS NOT A SYNTHESIZER. IT IS A CONTROLLER. When it is hooked up to a computer or external sound device it controls that device. The device used is a synthesizer in most cases, unless they use a computer (which is what they use) and what drives the phi is a synthesizer software. They also have something called a M-module.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AEwSQITemY&feature=related
Hopefully you get it now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6DJwaYQrow
back to the E-pan, the E-pan is the same as the electronic sax, it is a electronic device built in the shape as a pan, the voices are produced not by the cabinet of the device but by a series of electronic components that are triggered by switches placed in a configuration set up in a similar position as a pan, it can be used on stage by pan players but is more suited as studio gear,this is no relative of the pan, contrary to the hang which is a pan improvised and modified to be played by hands instead of sticks, the action of the triggers is pretty decent, and a pan player will not have to log into his living room studio six big barrells to put on a bass track, similarly, it can help in cost effectiveness where two, three or whatever pan players can cut a gig using E-pans, somebody playing a bass voice another a guitar whatever and do not have to worry about space, this can be taken to the pool sides, which might not have space for a six bass and a 4pan with a seconds and two tenors, people love to hear the sound of a real all steel steelband, but have no mroom for all them barrels, plus it is problems to log around a six bass etc around all over the place, I could see itmost of the gigers play either tenor or seconds, more work for panmen, a 3,4 or 5 piece E-pan group can go out there one playing lead the next one playing bass, some body playing percussion and the next one playing chords, etc and they interchange, there is still work needed to fine tune it sound wise, but instead of taking it to Birch or guppy, they could take it to leston paul or somebody to fine tune, ah done for now peace
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