Music from Oil Drums: The Acoustics of the Steel Pan

MAR 01, 1996

Over the past 50 years, the steel pan has evolved from a Caribbean folk instrument into a versatile and popular instrument, used worldwide in musical styles ranging from symphonic to calypso. Behind its rich sound lie some interesting acoustical properties.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881489

Thomas D. Rossing

D. Scott Hampton

Uwe J. Hansen

The steel pan—made from the end of an oil drum—is probably the most important new acoustical (that is, nonelectronic) musical instrument developed in the 20th century. In addition to being the foremost musical instrument in its home country, Trinidad and Tobago, the steel pan is becoming increasingly popular in North America and Europe. (See figure 1). The modern family of steel pans now covers a five‐octave range, and steel bands of today use them to perform calypso, jazz, and popular and classical music.

References

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2. L. Pichary, Results of the Steel Pan Survey 90, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Tunapuna (1990).
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4. U. J. Hansen, T. D. Rossing, E. Mannette, K. George, MRS Bull. 20 (3), 44 (1995).https://doi.org/MRSBEA
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6. T. D. Rossing, D. S. Hampton, J. Boverman, “Acoustics of Caribbean Steel Drums,” paper presented at 112th meeting of ASA (1986).
7. D. S. Hampton, C. Alexis, T. D. Rossing, “Note coupling in Caribbean steel drums,” paper presented at 115th meeting of ASA (1987).
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12. D. S. Hampton, “Investigation of the Vibrational Modes of Steel Drums by Holographic Interferometry,” MS thesis, Northern Illinois U., De Kalb (1995).
13. T. D. Rossing, D. S. Hampton, U. J. Hanson, “Acoustics of Steelpans,” paper presented at 130th meeting of ASA (1995).
14. F. Rohner, “Empirical Steel Pan Development: Materials, Shapes and Musical Concerns”, paper presented at International Converence on Advanced Materials, Cancun, Mexico (1995).

More about the Authors

Thomas D. Rossing. Northern Illinois University.

D. Scott Hampton. Northern Illinois University.

Uwe J. Hansen. Indiana State University, NIU.