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Pan, Tobago's Own Invention
Steel Pan or Steel Drum as it’s more commonly called in the US is strictly a local invention, designed and developed on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s. It is a remarkable demonstration of local inventiveness with its beginnings lying in such mundane discards like old pots and pans, biscuit tins and paint cans; anything that would reverberate and strike a rhythm. Eventually Pan progressed to the 55 gallon oil drum which offered the complete chromatic scale empowering a player to strike any note. Construction which requires patience, is primitive, yet with a degree of complexity and done exclusively by hand. The bottom is hammered out into a concave shape with the different strokes marked on its surface. As on date there is no ‘standard’ protocol for the arrangement of notes with each tuner having his preferred setup. The quality of the finished instrument, the clarity of its sound and its versatility depends entirely on the skill and experience of its maker.
Pan and Steel Bands are just some of the attractions Tobago has to offer. Music and rhythm is the lifeblood of the Tobagonians, with the island’s many cultures reflected in its diversity. The islands stage an annual show which attracts performers from overseas and is fast becoming an event on the global music calendar.
Like Steel Pan, the Bacolet Beach Club is another island icon which too, reflects its cultural diversity in its architecture and exotic cuisine which have developed a exclusive identity. This beach resort hotel offers the latest facilities to the modern traveler set in a rustic charm and elegance of a bygone era. Check out this exceptional example of Tobago culture at www.bacoletbeachclub.com