Steel Pan Growth
Steel Pan has came a long way from the Peace Preservation Ordinance in 1883. This Ordinance established by the British Powers over Trinidad as a response to the Camboulay Riots of 1881 - 1884 “banned drummings and noisy instruments for fear that these celebrations and gatherings would lead to revolt” (Frans, 2019, p. 20). This crucial piece of legislation made way for Trinidadian slaves and commoners to improvise: Tamboo Bamboo. The predecessor of Steel Pan, the bamboo is was at different lengths to produce different pitches and at the time, bamboo trees were in abundance. The likes of Ellie Mannette, Myrna Nurse, Winston “Spree” Simon, and much more, the chromatic Steel Pan as we know it today came to be, shown below.
Here is a popular song, DNA by Mical Teja, released last year that caught the attention of steel bands, carnival, and Jouvert across the world. Musicians knew it would be a song bands would want to perform. It is an ode to the land and culture of Trinidad & Tobago.
Here is BPTT Renegades, a notorious steel band from Trinidad & Tobago playing their winning rendition of Mical Teja's song. The musical director is Duvone Stewart, a name that would go in the history books for his legendary influence on steel pan arranging. The joy comes into listening to different parts of the orchestra and how they blend in virtuosity and complexity to make such an engaging work for the audience and the players. I have embedded an annotation to hear when Stewart quotes the national anthem of Trinidad & Tobago.
