Tagged With "Steelpan"

   Carnival season 2015 is in full swing. To the world Carnival may be most popular in Brazil, but Trinidad and Tobago has a massive celebration that may just be second biggest. The Carnival season starts immediately after the...

I have heard them, and they sound fantastic!

Living as I do in Central Brooklyn, home of what's likely the largest-anywhere off-season (Labor Day) celebration of Carnival, I get to hear a lot of pan music, especially in August and early September...it's a great sound, and unfortunately sometimes drowned by the huge loudspeakers blasting out "commercial music" in the parade. But in the days and weeks before, and on the sides, it's wonderful. By the way, there's a real interesting history to pans--they developed in response to the...

Slightly off-topic, I once heard a steel band play classical music on accurately tuned instruments made for the purpose. I've looked but have never been able to find a recording of that ethereal sound. If anyone runs across one, please please let me know.

Originally Posted by PHeymont: Living as I do in Central Brooklyn, home of what's likely the largest-anywhere off-season (Labor Day) celebration of Carnival, I get to hear a lot of pan music, especially in August and early September...it's a great sound, and unfortunately sometimes drowned by the huge loudspeakers blasting out "commercial music" in the parade. But in the days and weeks before, and on the sides, it's wonderful. By the way, there's a real interesting history to pans--they...

For PortMoresby and everyone...Google "classical music on Steelpan" and you'll get a surprisingly large collection of hits, including this one, featuring a high school pan orchestra playing a Bach D-minor concerto:

Many thanks, PHeymont. I did, in fact, google my heart out and gave up several years ago, thinking it hopeless. There was nothing, so this tells me there's now more out there and I'll look again. Cheers!