Steel Drums and Steelbands: A History

by Angela Smith

Overview

Steel Drums and Steelbands: A History is a vivid account of the events that led to the “accidental” invention of the steel drum: the only acoustic musical instrument invented in the 20th century. Angela Smith walks readers through the evolution of the steel drum from an object of scorn and tool of violence to one of the most studied, performed, and appreciated musical instruments today. Smith explores the development of the modern steelband, from its roots in African slavery in early Trinidad to the vast array of experiments in technological innovation and to the current explosion of steelbands in American schools. The book offers insights directly from major contributors of the steelband movement with sections devoted exclusively to pioneers and innovators.

Drawing on seven years of research, repeated trips to the birthplace of the steel drum, Trinidad, and interviews with steelband pioneers, Smith takes readers far beyond the sunny associations of the steel drum with island vacations, cruise ships, and multiple encores of “Yellow Bird.” Digging deep into Trinidad’s history—a tale of indigenous extermination and African slavery, of French settlement and Spanish and British colonialism before mid-century independence—Smith weaves an unforgettable narrative of talking drums, kalinda stick fights, tamboo bamboo bands, iron bands, calypso, Carnival, and the U. S. military. Together, all played major roles in the evolution of today’s steelband and in the panman’s journey from renegade to hero in the steelband’s move from the panyards of Trinidad’s poorest neighborhoods to the world’s most prestigious concert halls. The reader will discover how an instrument created by teenage boys, descendants of African slaves, became a world musical phenomena. Steel Drums and Steelbands is the ideal introduction to the steel drum, steelbands, and their history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810883420
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/07/2012
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Angela Smith is a freelance writer/editor and Executive Director Emeritus of the Writers' League of Texas. She is also a working musician, dividing her time between playing cello and the steel drum.

Table of Contents

Preface: Why I Wrote This Book ix

Acknowledgments xi

Permissions xiii

Introduction xv

Part I Trinidad

Chapter 1 A Bit of Early History 3

Chapter 2 Transformation 8

Chapter 3 The Africans and Their Drums 14

Chapter 4 Creative Tension 19

Chapter 5 Freedom Fights 24

Chapter 6 Tamboo Bamboo 29

Chapter 7 Bamboo to Steel 35

Chapter 8 War Years 41

Chapter 9 Pan Rising 48

Chapter 10 Renegades 56

Chapter 11 Turnaround 63

Chapter 12 Heroes of the Nation 69

Chapter 13 Pan Fever 75

Chapter 14 Pan on the Move 85

Part II Expansion

Chapter 15 Pan Comes to the United States 97

Chapter 16 The U.S. Navy Steel Band 108

Chapter 17 Pan Goes to School 115

Chapter 18 First American of Pan: Andy Narell 134

Chapter 19 More History in Progress 140

Chapter 20 Symphony on the Street 146

Appendix 1 Pan Pioneers 155

Appendix 2 Pan Innovators 167

Appendix 3 Chapter Timelines 177

Appendix 4 Questions and Topics for Group Discussion 183

Appendix 5 Selected Discography and Internet Links 188

Appendix 6 Instruments in the Steelband Family 191

Bibliography 193

Index 197

Contributors 207

About the Author 209

Editorial Reviews

This is a really awesome book, especially for folks teaching kids in middle and high school. The chapters are short, well written, informative, interesting and very readable. I absolutely love it! I have been looking, wishing, hoping for a book like this.

Rachel Romatz Palmer

Smith's work is a valiant introduction to the subject. Steel Drum and Steelbands: A History fills a void in the literature and provides a vivid overview of the history and development of steel bands. Prior to this publication, most works that addressed steel band focused on the Trinidadian tradition and were mostly oral histories by those involved with steelpan in the Caribbean. Smith's work deftly addresses many current issues related to the ongoing growth and spread of steelpan in the United States, including changes in steelpan construction, disputes over the cultural ownership of the steelpan, electronic instruments, changes in the distribution and creation of steelpan music, and the rise of steel band festivals in the United States such as Meet Me in Morgantown. Each of these topics ultimately deserves its own thorough scholarly examination; however, Smith does well to include these and provide a framework for ongoing conversations in the steelpan field.

Journal of Historical Research in Music Education

Although most people are familiar with the music and sound of the steel drum, few know the history behind it or the evolution of its sound. Angela Smith has researched the beginnings of the instrument in Trinidad by the descendants of African slaves to its modern-day sound and popularity. The first half of the volume focuses on the early roots of the steel drum in Trinidad, while the second half covers its expansion to the United States, its popularity in schools, and the future of this musical sound. The author provides six appendixes that add greatly to the reference appeal of this work. This include lists of the instrument's pioneers and innovators, a timeline, questions and topics for group discussions, a selected discography and Internet links, and other instruments in the steelband family. The author researched this topic for seven year and took multiple trips to Trinidad to interview with pioneers of the music—this work is clearly a labor of love for her. This will be a valuable addition to the music collections of larger university libraries.

American Reference Books Annual

[Steel Drums and Steelbands]is a clear, compact, nicely organized yet comprehensive history of pan (steelband). It is aimed at high school students, especially people who may know little about the topic. The book is an easy and enjoyable read. It begins with the history of Trinidad, the arrival of African slaves, and the development of Carnival. It then covers the evolution of pan from drums, the tamboo bamboo, and biscuit tin bands to the tuned steel orchestras.

New West Indian Guide

A freelance writer and pan musician, Smith has written a conventional but useful chronological history of Trinidad's steel drums, or pan. The author devotes the first five chapters to reviewing Trinidad's history. The remaining 15 chapters—except chapter 10, which returns, oddly, to a discussion of history—are devoted to pan's development, including its migration into the US and especially into the academy. Appendixes provide short biographies of noted musicians, a list of websites, and a summary of the chronology. A section of black-and-white photos is mainly devoted to major figures. Smith sees this book as an "introduction" to pan and its history, and in that context the book succeeds....Readers new to pan or currently participating will likely find the book to be a useful and objective place to start. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews

A great book, well written, very informative, a must read for anyone who wants to know about steelpan history.

Barry Mannette

Absolutely a great resource!

Brandon L. Haskett

This book presents an easy-reading introduction to the history of pan and the steelband, the people and their culture, and many of the individuals who contributed to the evolution of this art form.

Percussive Notes

A freelance writer and pan musician, Smith has written a conventional but useful chronological history of Trinidad's steel drums, or pan. The author devotes the first five chapters to reviewing Trinidad's history. The remaining 15 chapters—except chapter 10, which returns, oddly, to a discussion of history—are devoted to pan's development, including its migration into the US and especially into the academy. Appendixes provide short biographies of noted musicians, a list of websites, and a summary of the chronology. A section of black-and-white photos is mainly devoted to major figures. Smith sees this book as an "introduction" to pan and its history, and in that context the book succeeds....Readers new to pan or currently participating will likely find the book to be a useful and objective place to start. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice

A freelance writer and pan musician, Smith has written a conventional but useful chronological history of Trinidad's steel drums, or pan. The author devotes the first five chapters to reviewing Trinidad's history. The remaining 15 chapters—except chapter 10, which returns, oddly, to a discussion of history—are devoted to pan's development, including its migration into the US and especially into the academy. Appendixes provide short biographies of noted musicians, a list of websites, and a summary of the chronology. A section of black-and-white photos is mainly devoted to major figures. Smith sees this book as an "introduction" to pan and its history, and in that context the book succeeds....Readers new to pan or currently participating will likely find the book to be a useful and objective place to start. Summing Up: Recommended.

CHOICE

Although most people are familiar with the music and sound of the steel drum, few know the history behind it or the evolution of its sound. Angela Smith has researched the beginnings of the instrument in Trinidad by the descendants of African slaves to its modern-day sound and popularity. The first half of the volume focuses on the early roots of the steel drum in Trinidad, while the second half covers its expansion to the United States, its popularity in schools, and the future of this musical sound. The author provides six appendixes that add greatly to the reference appeal of this work. This include lists of the instrument's pioneers and innovators, a timeline, questions and topics for group discussions, a selected discography and Internet links, and other instruments in the steelband family. The author researched this topic for seven year and took multiple trips to Trinidad to interview with pioneers of the music—this work is clearly a labor of love for her. This will be a valuable addition to the music collections of larger university libraries.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

Absolutely a great resource!

Brandon Haskett