Hameed Shaqq
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Black Canada
Toronto, ON
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Pan History
The Steelpan Evolutionary Process
The Steelpanmusical Instrument is the only Instrument that was ever invented from any Drum that goes beyond just rhythms, that is to say the rudiments of music can be studied and played at any musical level on the Steelpan Instrument. Similar to any other conventional musical instrument, all the most important voice are followed within the family of instruments. This Instrument is a direct result of the Slavery System in the Caribbean.
Slaves and its resistance to European Colonialism took African drumming to a higher hights; The Colonial Christians certainly tried to convert everyone to Christianity and dissolve the Africans religion and culture. The Europeans feared the drums would activate revolts on the plantations by transmitting coded messages from one plantation to another. So the slaves were forbidden to practice their religion or to speak their own language and the drums and drumming was banned.
The cultural traditions of the Yoruba from Western Africa, was the popular among the Africans of the Caribbean Diaspora. The beating of animal skin drums was an integral part of the Africans' religious observance. Drumming was an obligation and an order to communicate with their traditional saints or gods. These rituals helped them to survive the vigorous system of a life of hardship, oppression and toil. Then still, celebrate their traditional important social occasions. Their devoted connections to the skin drums acted as a vehicle to create an attachment as well as an ecstasy to transport and maintain their African cultural traditions for generation to come.
The Bamboo plantbecause of its hollow stem was use of create rhthyms when cut to different lengths.
Discarded containerswas also use to create rhythyms and the people sang traditional songs.
The convexshape first use of the metal barrels to beat rhythym by drummers such as Beddoe and others in the 1920'30's.
Four note instrument hammered out by Victor Wilson aka Toetee, a forerunner in the development of the steelpan. This instrument was called a "Ping Pong".
The Spider-Web Tenor Pan was invented by Anthony Williams. He was the first person to create a musical instrument in the circle of 5ths, this theory was calculated by Pythagoras the Greek's father of mathematics in the 6th century BC.
Ellie Mannette was the first to use steel drum to create a Tenor Pan in 1946.
Bertie Marshall invented the Soprano voice calling it the Hi-Tenor tuned from Eb above Middle C.
NOW, Standard Soprano Steelpan tuned from Middle C and constructed in cycle of Fifths.
E-pan" invented by Salmon Cupid.
More Information
I am available for Educational Entertainment Workshop for Student of any age including Senior as young as 90 years.
Toronto, ON
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