1. Pan Swirl
My presentation is intended to develop a wider universal understanding
and appreciation for the steelpan instrument as another member to the family
of musical instruments, similar to the Vibraphone and other idophones. With
some demonstrations of performance techniques and approaches to
improvisation, I will permit the audience to discover the versatility and
creativity the steelpan brings to jazz, Classical and other genre of music. In
terms of our colloquium’s theme, Improvising Matters: Rights, Risk and
Responsibilities, I will show how improvisation and innovation are innate to
the steelpan and how the instrument is thus a natural vehicle for any form of
music as a whole.
Outside the steelpan community, very little is known about the art and
collaborative principles required to play this latest member in the Idiopathic
family. Indeed, many people are unaware that the steel pan can play the full
gamut of musical genres, including gospel and jazz. This presentation will
combine live demonstrations of the instrument’s capabilities as a tool of
improvisation with explanations of its origins, construction, and musical
capacity. In listening to live performances on soprano, tenor and alto
steelpans, the audience will gain insight into pan improvisation in various
historical and cultural contexts. The music performed will be drawn from a
range of recognized jazz, classical and many composers compositions. The
aim is to communicate with the audience, via the steelpan, the technique,
sensitivity and imagination inherent to improvisation and creativity.
This presentation will also be important in showing how creativity and
innovation are intrinsic to the steelpan, this unique modern-day musical
invention. As the historical component of the presentation will reveal, this
instrument is, in itself, an unprecedented demonstration of improvisation and
social cooperation, first emerging publicly only in 1945, on VE Day, in the
streets of Trinidad. Sixty-plus years later, it continues to provide enjoyment to
listeners and challenges to musicians as a unique element of our Canadian
ethnology-cultural diversity.
The Industrial Revolution brought massive changes for all human beings.
Humanity, the quality of life and expectations was transformed into segments
never before experience in the history of the world. Musicians including
Drummers and Musical Instruments were not separated by this new world
order and we now reaping many benefits in the 21st century. I will explain the
transition between the traditional drums to the “Steel Drum Pan” or Pan for
short. Because, there was never a Drum that played the rudiments of music
on the same surface, though; many cultured ones shared the different
between multi drums and tones, with the Timpani as an example.
A Steel Drum was shaped into an instrument; the most unique factor about

2. this is, that since history credited Pythagoras, 6th century BC calculations of
the musical cycle of fourths and fifths no instrument was ever made to follow
his configuration. Describing the origin and evolution of the steelpan ,
explaning the fabrication while demonstrating techniques for playing the
instrument with students of all ages is the object of the Workshop.
Although the steelpan, is sometimes called the steel “drum”, in fact, it is
tuned to A 440 and produces a full range of musical notes. Both melodies and
harmonies can be played, simultaneously on the steelpan. Colloquium
participants will have a chance to see and perhaps play an instrument whose
notes have been hammered and fired into a discarded oil drum in the”cycle of
fifths” – recycling at its richest. Description and demonstration will show how
technology can be used as a tool in the art of steelpan playing and
improvisation. The steelpan is an emerging musical instrument, inspiring a
discipline that incorporates new models extending beyond the traditional
genres – both in terms of physical construction and musical expression.
Other musical instruments will be welcome the traditional instrumental as
accompaniment in a united format, An obvious specific expectation of this
presentation is that, at the end, participanting audience will be able to define
criteria for analyzing steelpan improvisations and musical phrasings with
comparisons to other instruments.
Hameed Shaqq
www.thepanpiper.com