Steel Pan Trinidad And Tobago

Call it what you like steel pan pan steel pans steel drum tenor pan steel pan drum caribbean steel drums trinidad and tobago steel drum and collectively with musicians as a steelband.

Steel pan trinidad and tobago. Made from discarded oil drums it is the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century. The steel pan is the national instrument of trinidad and tobago. History of steel drums steel pans an inspiring story. Although steel drums steel pans were invented in the caribbean island of trinidad and tobago sometime around the second world war they had been evolving since the 1800 s when the inhabitants were celebrating carnival a street parade.

Drum refers to the steel drum containers from which. Steelpans also known as steel pans steel drums or pans and sometimes collectively with other musicians as a steel band or orchestra is a musical instrument originating from trinidad and tobago steelpan musicians are called pannists. In trinidad tobago there are many places you can see a steel pan band for yourself. Steel pans steel drums were created on the caribbean island of trinidad in the 1930s but steel pan history can be traced back to the enslaved africans who were brought to the islands during the 1700s.

Time and exposure eventually eroded this stigma and the steel pan is now the national instrument of the republic of trinidad and tobago and a source of great pride for its citizens. In trinidad and tobago carnival is the season of steel pan music and the truest of devotees like pannist johann chuckaree haunt the panyards weeks before t. The modern pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55 gallon industrial drums. Steel pan and its innovators are now held in high regard by persons of all levels of society in trinidad and tobago.

Head to the 1 500 seat port of spain national academy for the performing arts napa one of the city s main performance spaces that focuses mainly on putting on steel pan shows.