Kevin Martin, musician and instructor, has a passion. For years, he has been studying, performing with, composing for, and building the only instrument created in the 20th century: the steel drum. Kevin's talk and performance gives us insight into the social history, the musical potential, and the future of this melodic, percussive instrument.
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The steelpan was invented in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and is widely regarded and accepted internationally, as the only major acoustic (non-electric) musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. The steelpan (a.k.a. steeldrum or pan) is a chromatically pitched percussion musical instrument which is best categorized into the idiophone class of instruments instread of a drum which is a membranophone. It is traditionally made from 55 gallon steel drums or steel containers which formerly contained oil and like substances, although some experimentation has taken place with steel using a hydroforming and spinning process. Notes placement are arranged on the lead pan using the Pythagoras formula for the musical cycle of fourths and fifths and tuned using harmonic overtones in individual notes. The steelpans are the only instruments known to uniquely follow this configuration for this type of instrument.
The inception of the steelpan can be traced back to the 1930's. Since then and throughout the decades, the steelpan 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 testament to the talents, skills, creativity and cultural spirituality of the people of T&T.
The Internet and Social Media are littered with accounts of info on the steelpan, whether you accept them as proclomations or declarations. Regardless of your inclinations, it is a work-in-progress which is sorted out, so feel free to add your knowledge to the time-line base of knowledge.
We continue to proclaim that the Steel pan was the only musical instrument created in the 20th Century, which is not true. The synthesizer was also created in the 20th century. There were also acoustic instruments created in the 20th century. We need to be objective.
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The inception of the steelpan can be traced back to the 1930's. Since then and throughout the decades, the steelpan 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 testament to the talents, skills, creativity and cultural spirituality of the people of T&T.
The Internet and Social Media are littered with accounts of info on the steelpan, whether you accept them as proclomations or declarations. Regardless of your inclinations, it is a work-in-progress which is sorted out, so feel free to add your knowledge to the time-line base of knowledge.
https://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum/topics/wst-history-of-pan-time...
Respect...
We continue to proclaim that the Steel pan was the only musical instrument created in the 20th Century, which is not true. The synthesizer was also created in the 20th century. There were also acoustic instruments created in the 20th century. We need to be objective.