1. THE STEELDRUM (PAN)A Brief Introduction and Historical Overview Of The (Unofficial)National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobagoby George D. Goddard, B.A.

2. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LAND OF THE STEEL DRUMTrinidad is the southernmost island in the Caribbean. Besides the steel drum, Trinidad and Tobago gave theWorld the music genres known as calypso and soca. A variation influenced by East Indian culture, known asChutney, also originated in Trinidad. Trinidad and Tobago is influenced by a variety of cultures, includingthose of the United States. 3. WhO iNVeNTed The STeeL dRUM?There are no records pointing to any one person as the sole inventor of the steel drum (steelpan or pan).However, some unreliable claims give that honor to Winston Spree Simon. He, ironically, was documentedas saying he did not know who got the idea (sic). The most-credible accounts (primary sources) assert1939 as the year that a steelband first appeared on the streets of Port of Spain, the capital of the twin-islandnation. 4. AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND TRANSITIONSSkin Drum The African slaves broughtwith them, their African rituals,customs and culture. The drum played a major rolein African culture. The slave masters were alwaysvery suspicious of the use ofthe drum, and wouldoccasionally ban them frombeing played. This led to the Canboulay(Burning Cane) Riots in 1881. This event is stillcommemorated in Trinidadand Tobago to this day.Bamboo Drum By the turn of the century, theex-slave class turned tobamboo as their choice ofinstrument. The polyrhythmic aspects ofAfrican drumming wereretained, and the bambooinstruments took on thenames of African (skin) drums. Bands made up of bambooinstruments began to emerge,and became known asTamboo Bamboo bands.(Tambour, in French, meansdrum.) These tamboo bamboo bandsusually accompanied therustic martial art, known asstick fighting, where thecompetitors would beentranced by the rhythms ofthese bamboo instruments. Bamboo bands would also beoutlawed.Steel Drum As bamboo suffered the samefate, becoming outlawed, themasses sought out otherobjects that may be used forpercussive purposes. In that climate, the transitionfrom bamboo to metalinstruments began. Trash cans, soda crackertins, and even brake drumsand rotors, became the newinstruments of choice. At this point, the music wasstill all percussive andfocused on rhythms, asopposed to melodies andharmonies. Notes on theinstrument was stillforthcoming. Other objects also becamepart of the act, such asbottles and spoons, and thesteelband began to takeform.In Africa, we invented theTalking Drum. In Trinidad, weinvented the Singing Drum.George D. Goddard 5. THE INNOVATORS AND SCIENTISTSDr. ellie mannette ANThONy TONy williams Mr. Clifford AlexisEllie Manette is a pioneersteelband leader. He is thefirst person to use 55-gallonoil barrels, instead of biscuittins. He is a master steelpanscientist and educator.Tony Williams created thespider-webPythagorean cycle offifths design of todayslead pans, called tenorpans, but in the sopranorange of the SATB choir.Clifford Alexis is a master panplayer and maker. He is theco-Director of the NorthernIllinois University (NIU) SteelBand. Among his list of clientsis the US Navy Steel Band. 6. DE PANMAN OTHELLO MOLINEAUXWord of Mouth Othello, or Tello, is a pioneer soloist, who beganlearning piano in his early years. His playingskills caught the attention of jazz bassist JacoPastorius, and the two became inseperable, upto the unfortunate passing of Jaco at a nightclubin Miami. Tello was a member of Jacos Wordof Mouth orchestra; an impressive list ofmusicians that included Wayne Shorter, MichaelBrecker, Toots Thielemans, and drummer PeterErskine. Othello Molineaux also started the firstcollege steelpan program at the University ofMiami. The famous rock group, Chicago, areamong the musicians that have sought out hisservices in the recording studio, and the groupsalbum, Chicago X, has Othello as the featuresteel drummist on one of the albums tracks.iTS AbOUT TiMeIn 1993, Othello came out with his debut CD, ItsAbout Time, which, as he put it, had a two-foldmeaning.The first, he said, had to deal with thedemands for his solo album, which pan loverswere eagerly anticipating. So, Othello felt that iswas about time he did. The second meaning hasto deal with the polyrhythmic approaches he usedin his selection (process)and his improvisation.Othello is a master at this approach, and the useof samba rhythms, which have their roots inAngola and other parts of the African continent.Othello Molineaux is also a South Florida resident,and continues to tour globally. There are very fewsteel drum soloists that are as skillful and ascolorful as Othello Molineaux.Its about time, Mr.Panman. 7. THE STEELBAND MOVEMENT(FROM VIOLENCE TO PEACE)1939 - 1950 The ex-slave class have always rebelledagainst the colonial system that outlawedtheir cultural expressions of song and dancein the African traditions. The steelbandsmen, also had their annualcelebrations banned during World WarII, and by the late forties frustrations andraised tempers would result in the infamoussteelband clashes. This would climax in1950. These events would force the government tointervene.1950 - Present A Steelband Committee was set up; itsprimary function: to get to the root causesof the violence. Albert Gomes addresses the issues of socialmarginalization and economic deprivationas correlates to the attitudes and behaviorsof the steelbands membership. The Steelbands Association is formed. George Sonny Goddard takes over theleadership, and the name changes to theNational Association of Trinidad and TobagoSteelbandsmen (NATTS), then Pan Trinbago,its current name. 8. PROFILE IN COURAGE The ONLY person to lead all threesteelbands associations (SteelbandsAssociation, NATTS, and Panr Tinbago). The ONLY leader to be re-elected over 10times. Served as leader during the years 1957-1959, 1962-1971, 1978-1979. The ONLY leader to also be appointed togovernment positions, and be courted bypoliticians to run under their platform. The ONLY leader to be a member of thefirst steelband, Alexanders Ragtime Band. The ONE iconic figure who led the way forsteelbands and their players to beexposed to the international market. The ONLY leader to address the Vatican, inregards to the issue of whether or not it wassacrilegious for steelbands to performreligious music. The Vatican respondedfavorably. Stood adamant in his defense of thesteelbandsmen, up to until his passing in1988. Mr. and Mrs. George Goddard are presentedto Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 9. PAN IN THE GLOBEThe National Steelband, formed under George Goddards leadership, would open the doors fornumerous pan men and pan women, including Hugh Borde and Clifford Alexis. Mr. Alexis,started one of the first steelpan college programs at Northern Illinois University. Today, there arenumerous degree programs for steelpan players worldwide. 10. FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITYSTEEL ENSEMBLE 11. WhAT AbOUT A MUSTANgSSTEELPAN ENSEMBLE? 12. ThATS ALL fOLkS!Have a safe happy summer 2013!!!2013. Panicle publishing company. For educational purposes only.Steelpan samples: George Goddard - Footprints, Morning dance, biLLieS bOUNce .Othello molineux de panman, hANNibALS ReTURN.Calypso samples: merchant pan in danger, david rudder hammer,lord Kitchener = pan in a minor.background track sample : chameleon, herbie hancockthis presentation was created and edited by George d. Goddard, b.a. (Cum laude)