Special invitation
Panfest Vybz
The inaugural Edgewood Steel Band was invited to perform as special guests at the first-ever Panfest Vybz community event. The students brought their musical talents, energy, and fun, making it a memorable and enjoyable night! The students were shown love by the public who attended and also by their school, as many staff members also attended the event to see the special performance. It was an incredible night for our community.
About the Steel Pan
A Brief History
The steel pan is a musical instrument indigenous to the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The early evolution of the instrument dates back to the 1930s and 40s, making it one of the only acoustic instruments to be invented in the twentieth century. (https://mittcott.com/history-of-pan/)
It was established in the context of Carnival resistance, its history being traced back to the enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean in the 1700s.
The steel pan is possibly the only instrument made from discarded oil barrels, demonstrating the ingenuity and innovation of its creators. Hammered into the shiny metal surface is a series of dents. Each one creates a different note, subtly different from the ones around it, according to their position and size. Different drums contain tonal ranges equivalent to soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The drums are usually made and tuned by hand, making pan makers gifted scientists and artists.
Pan music can sometimes have a "cruise ship" mentality because people think of it as a happy summery sound from Trinidad and the Caribbean islands, but it is much more. The invention and evolution of this instrument are deeply rooted in rich history and cultural pride, and it is a joy to share my country's instrument with the students I work with here in Toronto!
All genres of music are performed on pans across the world, and nothing compares to the unique sound and energy that this instrument can emote.