History Of the steelpan

Welcome to the Sound of Trinidad & Tobago – a true expression of a Trinbagonian Artform. The Steelpan is a musical instrument indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago whose early evolution dates back to the 1930s and 40s – one of the only acoustic instruments invented in the 20th century!

 

Key Moments & Dates In Steelpan – A Timeline

Timeline

1890
1890
1890s – Tamboo Bamboo Ensemble
1890s – Tamboo Bamboo Ensemble
  • Tamboo* Bamboo ensemble replaces African drums
  • An ensemble included different lengths and sizes of bamboo which simulated the four main voices of music: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (*Tambour)

 

Image Source: NALIS. Taken From “The Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan: History and Evolution, Dr. F.I.R. Blake.”
1930
1930
1930s – Tamboo Bamboo Ensembles Replaced by Metal Bands
1930s – Tamboo Bamboo Ensembles Replaced by Metal Bands
  • Metal Bands replace Tamboo Bamboo ensembles
  • Musical instruments made from garbage bins and covers, biscuit drums, paint cans, brake drums, chamber pots, and bottles and spoons

 

Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan: History and Evolution, Dr. F.I.R. Blake.”
1940
1940
1940s -Emergence of the “Ping Pong”
1940s -Emergence of the “Ping Pong”
  • The “ping pong” – A small hand-held pan cut from an empty paint tin or carbide container
  • Ensembles now consists of the five-note tenor kittle, a two-note bass drum or “du-dup”, bottle and spoon, brake drums, a cuff boom, graters, and other metal objects
  • USA establish an Army base in Trinidad – Empty oil drums litter the bay of Port of Spain

 

Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Illustrated Story of Pan, Kim Johnson.”

1945
1945
1945 VE Day – The Steelpan Was Presented to the World for the First Time in Port of Spain
1945 VE Day – The Steelpan Was Presented to the World for the First Time in Port of Spain
  • Revellers parade the streets of Port of Spain
  • “They waved branches and chanted songs to the accompaniment of music thumped out of old iron” (Trinidad Gazette, March 8th, 1945)

 

Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Illustrated Story of Pan, Kim Johnson.”

1950
1950
1950s – Advances in the Instrument
1950s – Advances in the Instrument
  • Implementation of overtones, wooden mallets, 55-gallon oil drums, and layout of the tenor pan in 4ths and 5ths
  • Growing pains for the Steelband movement as artform comes under attack
  • Ellie Mannette develops the chromatic tonal structure of the tenor pan and migrates to the USA
  • Steelband ensemble established in Puerto Rico

 

Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan: History and Evolution, Dr. F.I.R. Blake.”

1951
1951
1951 – Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TAPSO) Performs at the 1951 “Festival of Britain”
1951 – Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TAPSO) Performs at the 1951 “Festival of Britain”
  • First Steelpan performance outside of Trinidad and Tobago

 

Image Source GETTY / BBC

1960
1960
1960s – Innovation and Expansion
1960s – Innovation and Expansion
  • Introduction of the double tenor
  • Steelpans used in Classical music performances
  • T&T based pan ensembles perform and tour overseas
  • Era of Panorama: An official Steelband committee and governing body forms in Trinidad and Tobago
  • National Steelband performs in the USA (1964), Commonwealth Arts Festival (1965)
  • Steelband performances debut in Tokyo

 

Image Source Archives de la Ville de Montréal – Le National Steel Band de Trinidad et Tobago. Août 1967.

1962
1962
1962 – Trinidad & Tobago Gains Independence
1962 – Trinidad & Tobago Gains Independence
  • Trinidad & Tobago gains independence from Great Britain on August 31st, 1962

 

Image Source The Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

1963
1963
1963 – First Official Panorama Competition Held
1963 – First Official Panorama Competition Held
  • This marked the beginning of the annual steelband competition
  • To this day the national competition is still held in the Queens Park Savannah

 

Image Source: Pan On The Net
1970
1970
1970s – Pan Conquers the World
1970s – Pan Conquers the World
  • Interest in the Steelpan as a musical instrument rises: Steelpan movement expands throughout the British Commonwealth with hubs in POS, Guyana, Antigua, New York, Orlando, Illinois, and London
  • TASPO hosts Steelpan manufacturing workshop in Switzerland
  • USA Navy Steelband moves to New Orleans
  • Experiments to mechanise the pan making process begin with CARIRI in T&T

 

Image Source The Royal Gazette, The Esso Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band

1980
1980
1980s – More Pan Expansion
1980s – More Pan Expansion
  • English-speaking Caribbean holds Steelpan festivals during Carnival period
  • Steelpan ensembles/orchestras now established in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, France, and South Africa

 

Image Source National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Photo Collection – “Steelband Jamboree, Queens Park Savannah, 1963 “

1990
1990
1990s – Steelbands Honoured with Prestigious Awards
1990s – Steelbands Honoured with Prestigious Awards
  • · 3 Steelpan bands receive the T&T Chaconia Medal Gold for their cultural contributions:
    • Desperadoes (1992)
    • Renegades (1992)
    • Invaders (1996)
  • Global recognition of Steelpan bands: In 2000, the World Steelband Music Festival is held in POS and features bands from the Caribbean, as well as Europe and USA

 

Image Source The Office of the President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

2010
2010
2010s – Education and Innovation
2010s – Education and Innovation
  • First class of the Advanced Steelpan Tuning Programme at University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) graduates after 16 months of training
  • Trinidad and Tobago is granted patent for G pan
  • Continued global interest in Steelpans: Australia holds First Steelpan Festival in 2013

 

Image Source University of the West Indies (UTT)

2020
2020
2020 – Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago is Established
2020 – Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago is Established
  • The brainchild of Akua Leith, he envisioned a full-service pan ecosystem that would provide year-round employment in the production and craftsmanship of steelpans.
  • He approached Mario Joseph, David Hackett, and the Hadad Brothers, long-time supporters of steelpan music and together they created a dynamic team to implement Akua’s vision.
  • The team, a unique blend of pan artisans and successful entrepreneurs, set out to build a brand committed to good governance and the business of steelpan.
2020
2020 – Panorama Competitions Now Held Around The World
2020 – Panorama Competitions Now Held Around The World
  • The first national steelpan competition debuted in T&T in 1963
  • Since then, there have been annual steelpan competitions and events held in all 7 continents of the globe!
2021
2021
2021 – Musical Instruments Of Trinidad & Tobago Begins Development
2021 – Musical Instruments Of Trinidad & Tobago Begins Development
  • Musical Instruments of Trinidad & Tobago begins development: A company led by a unique blend of pan artisans and successful businesspeople committed to good governance and the business of steelpan
2022
2022
2022 – MITTCO Opens New Steelpan Manufacturing Facility
2022 – MITTCO Opens New Steelpan Manufacturing Facility
  • Our modern, state-of-the-art steelpan manufacturing facility was opened on August 11, 2022, which has been recognised as World Steelpan Day.

In the meantime, did we miss something? If there are any key dates in our history timeline that you think we should add – please email info@mittcott.com and we’ll have a look!