Historical Development of the Steelband 

Introduction

The steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.  It is the only musical instrument invented in the twentieth century.  Created in the 1930’s, the steel pan owes its genesis to the carnival festivals of that era. It emerged as  the product of the energy of the people directed towards cultural self-expression.  The steelpan therefore became a cultural vehicle forged from the historical and social conditions prevailing at that time. Its development was moulded by the ethnic influences of our heritage.

Carnival celebrations in the late 1800’s were marked by disturbances which prompted the authorities to prohibit the unlicensed playing of all  percussion, string and wood-wind  instruments by way of legal ordinance.  This  led to the development of the Tamboo-Bamboo as a musical instrument. The  Tamboo-Bamboo was made from bamboo cut to various lengths and its sound was produced by stamping onto the ground.  Carnival celebrations in the five decades from 1884 to the late 1930s witnessed the growing rhythms of Tamboo-Bamboo musical ensembles in street processions with accompanying brass and string instrumental bands.

Several problems with the bamboo material, including its  tendency to splinter easily, resulted in experimentation with other materials such as metal containers, to produce various sound effects. These experiments resulted in the discovery of the  steel drum since it proved to be more durable than other material and capable of greater tonal versatility.  

This drum, originally used to store petroleum, evolved into the steel pan  by making cross-sections cut into the 55-gallon metal container.  Through further experimentation, percussive sounds of various pitches were produced by indenting and tempering the concave metal surface.  The steel drum therefore  was used in the creation of what is known today as the steel pan, and although there have been several  competing claims to its invention, it is generally accepted that the steel pan was first made around 1939 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Carnival of 1940 witnessed the first public appearance of the steel pan and it has since evolved through the ingenious innovations of various contributors. These innovations have resulted in instruments of different tonal ranges which now comprise the musical ensemble of the modern steelband. 

The steelpan has risen from the deprived urban tenements of Port-of-Spain where it was forged, to acceptance and promotion by the international community.  What has brought this instrument forward onto the world stage was the devotion, talent and industry of  its early followers.  This is a significant achievement in the face of the financial obstacles and disdain by society for the thuggery and violence once associated with it.

 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A STEELBAND

THE MODERN STEELBAND

The early development of the steelband took place in the decades of the 1930 and 1940s. The steel pan was first played strung around the neck of the performer and is often referred to as a Traditional Steelband or 'Pan-Round-De-Neck.'  Carrying the steelpan in this manner restricted the repertoire of the band to the lighter weighted instruments.

The growing need for mobility gave rise to the development of the conventional steelband with its wheeled, and sometimes canopied carriages, which were pushed by ardent supporters. These carriages are still used today by conventional bands which may number up to 120 musicians or panmen.  Some band however, have resorted to having their carraiges propelled by heavy duty vehicles.

The progression of the size of the modern steelband and the methods used to transport them has been attained through the inspiration and combined efforts of its innovators, and those who support and direct the artform, such as the fabricators, musicians (panmen and panwomen), pan tuners, musical arrangers, organizing bodies and sponsors - who make up the pan movement or industry. This combination of effort and devotion defines the present versatility of the steel pan in the ensemble of the modern steelband.

ORGANIZATION OF A STEELBAND

Members

A typical steelband is normally led by a captain who, in addition to being an experienced player, has well-developed musical insight and ability.  A large band may also have section leaders whose job is to support the captain by passing on his knowledge and skill to the other members of the orchestra. 

Instruments

The composition of instruments in a typical steelband is given below, which can be viewed by clicking :

 

A typical steelband musical orchestra can reproduce melodies from various genres of music.  Once a composition or song has been written or selected for use by the steelband, the musical arrangement begins. This musical arrangement involves  reproducing the melody of the chosen piece of music by adapting it to the interplay of the various sections of the steel orchestra.

In the case of the steelpan, there are musical arrangers, whose task is to determine the range of sound from the chosen composition.  A steel orchestra may also have a musical conductor, whose task it is to harmonize the individual characteristics of each instrument from the musical score. 

A resident of John John in Port-of-Spain, Winston 'Spree Simon' is famous for his role in the   development of the 'ping pong' which became the tenor pan of today.  He was also a proficient player of the instrument, and showcased, through concerts, the possibilties of the instrument.  He held performances both locally and abroad, playing  calypsoes and classical tunes. It is believed by some, that he was the inventor of the steelpan.

•  Ellie Mannette 1927  -

Ellie Mannette is responsible for developing the concept of the concave sinking to the steel pan surface rather than convex.  Skilled with the tenor pan, he is also the creator of the double seconds, as well as, the concept of having rubber attached to the end to the playing stick.  He currently resides in  the United States and is the founder of a steelpan manufacturing company.

Online Resources: Mannette Steel Drums 

Other Famous Pan Players, Composers and Arrangers:

• Ellie Mannette
• Ray Holman
• Ken "Professor" Philmore
• Jit Samaroo
• Len "Boogsie" Sharpe
• Jim "Boss" Wharton
• Andy Narell
• Liam Teague
• Robert Greenidge

STEELBAND COMPETITIONS

The Trinidad and Tobago Steelband Association,  the precursor to  the present representative body Pan Trinbago, was establishment in 1950.  Pan Trinbago  was formed to promote the development of the steelband as a musical artform.  In this regard, from 1950 onwards, concerts and festivals  were organised and held for steelbands.  Pan Trinbago is now the official body representing the local steelband industry.

Starting in 1963, the Panorama steelband competition was inaugurated as an annual pre-carnival event and today, it has evolved into the premiere steelband  competition in Trinidad and Tobago.  Open to conventional steelbands, a preliminary round of competitions is held in five designated zones throughout the country beginning in January and continuing to the weekend before carnival.  During this time, steelbands from all zones vie for supremacy. The grand final of the competion, Panorama,  is held on the Saturday before Carnival,  heralding  in Sunday's Dimanche Gras competition and the greatest show on earth - Carnival Monday and Tuesday. 

For Pan Trinbago's official list of Panorama winners:

2005 Panorama Winners

Also visit the Carnival Champions page for detailed lists of various competition winners from as early as 1932.

Other steelband competitions include:

• Junior Panorama competition, held for secondary schools steelband 
• World Steelband  festival: is a b-ennial event, it started in 1998. Last held in Longon, England in August-October 2004. It was held under the Auspices of Pan Trinbago and  the Pan European and British Association of Steelbands.
• The Jouvert Bomb Competition - usually held on Carnival Monday, it features steelbands doing rapid transitions from one melody to another.
• Pan Ramajay, held each year in May
• Pan Jazz Festival, first held in 1988, now held annually in November of each year

STEELBAND GLOSSARY

Bacchanal	Bacchanal denotes the merry-making and noisy confusion of those engaged in any carnival activity.
Big Yard	See Savannah.
Bottle and Spoon	A ‘bottle and spoon’, refers to the musical effect of a glass bottle being struck with a metal spoon. It is a common element in the engine room of a steelband.
Chipping	The slow mincing shuffle of carnival revellers following the rhythm of music from a mobile steelband or disc-jockey.
Dimanche Gras	French for Grand Sunday' or 'Fat Sunday': Dimanche Gras is the Sunday before Carnival Monday. The Calypso Monarch Competition and the Carnival king and Queen Costume competition are held in the Savannah on Dimache Gras night.
Engine room	The percussion section of a steelband which provides the timing for the musical rhythm.
Flag Woman	The Flag Woman performs an enthusiastic flag-waving dance during the live performance of her steelband. This energetic task was formerly performed by a male.
Iron man	The 'iron man' is the virtuoso percussionist in the engine room of the steelband. His enthusiastic rhythmic pounding of metal provides timing for the steelband musicians.
Lime	A lime is any informal socializing and/or recreation in a relaxed environment.
North Stand	The stands on the northern side of the stage at the Queens Park Savannah favoured by the less inhibited, and sometimes more unruly audience because of its bacchanal atmosphere.
Pan Trinbago	Pan Trinbago is the official body which represents the interests of the steelband movement.
Panorama	Held since 1963 Panorama is the premiere steelband competition of the carnival season.
Ping Pong	The Ping Pong is another name for the tenor pan especially in the early stages of its development.
Ramajay	To ramajay is to improvise on a given tune in competition with other pannists.
Savannah	The Queens Park Savannah, also called the Big Yard, is the venue for the judging the main events of carnival:Panorama, Parade of the Bands and Dimanche Gras. Located in Port-of-Spain it is approximately 199 acres in area.
Steel Pan	The steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Made from discarded oil drums, it is the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century.
Tamboo Bamboo	[French: 'Tambour' for drum]. The musical instrument made from bamboo tubes used in Carnival during the period 1884 to the 1930s before the invention of the Steel Pan.