What Tuning of Hand Pan in Once Again

What is a Paw Pan, Hang Pulsate, and Pantam?

The "handpan", "Hang Drum", "pantam", and "UFO Drum" are unlike names for a closely related family of relatively young musical instruments.  The instrument is made of two convex sheets of steel glued together.  They take tuned notes on the height and sometimes bottom half that can exist played with the hands.

Each instrument is tuned to a single scale such equally Major, Pocket-size or Harmonic Minor.  No understanding of music theory is required to create beautiful music because at that place are no incorrect notes in the single scale.  This besides allows a thespian to improvise from a more emotional and kinetic inspiration complimentary of the mind.  Many players apply these instruments for person meditation, sound healing besides equally more traditional group compositions.

Each high quality instrument has notes with tuned harmonics that can be individually played as well a tuned hole in the lesser crush that creates a playable helmholtz like an udu drum.   Some builders have called this pigsty a "port" or "gu".

The overtone rich instrument has an ethereal and hypnotic sound that emanates in all directions and often captivates listeners.

History of the Mitt Pan, Hang Pulsate, and Pantam

When and where was it invented?

The path of this instrument's development has traveled the globe and is intimately related to other musical instruments some of which are also very immature and some of which are centuries old.

Most people agree that the founders of the handpan are Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of PANArt Hangbau AG in Bern, Switzerland.  The 2 were career steel pan builders as well as inventors of multiple other musical instruments. Felix started building steel pans in Switzerland in 1976 and supplied many of the instruments for the steel bands that arose in the country in the 1980's and 1990's.

In the belatedly 1990's,Reto Weber, a hand percussionist, came to Felix and Sabina and had the thought for changing a steel pan into a "sounding pot in steel with some notes to play with the hands".  The idea was to mix the sound of the Southward India Ghatam with the sound of a steel pan. After some experimentation, Felix and Sabina had birthed the "mother Hang", which tin can be institute in the foreground of the following photo (courtesy of wikipedia).  Additionally, there is a ghatam in the bottom correct corner and Hang Hang (plural for Hang) fabricated in 2005 (top right), 2006 (height eye) and 2007 (top left).

The give-and-take "Hang" came from the Bernese German word for "Hand".  The instruments became unremarkably referred to as Hang Drums, which is still a very ordinarily used phrase today even though its use has been strongly discouraged by PANart.

PANart Hang Product

Felix and Sabina stopped steel pan production and in 2001, they started fabricating the First Generation Hang Hang. One tin can be seen in the photo above in the top right.  In the same year, they presented the instrument at Musikmesse Frankfurt. From 2001 to 2005, they offered the instrument in approximately 45 different sound models, which were focused more often than not on indigenous musical scales like Ake bono, Hijaz, Pygmy, Melog and Zhi Diao.  The instruments all had 8 notes in a circle around a center note, which they referred to as the "ding".  Felix and Sabina reportedly made over 5000 get-go generation Hang Hang.

The First Generation Hang was generally sold by select distributors effectually the globe.  In 2005, the popularity of the instrument skyrocketed when people began finding videos of them on youtube. Nosotros still hear the same words today from people new to the art form: "I saw this video of this amazing instrument and knew I only had to have one".

When PANart moved on to crafting the Second Generation Hang and eventually the 3rd Generation Hang, the procedure of obtaining i became increasing difficult.  PANart began requesting that every prospective buyer send a hand written letter explaining their motivations and desires for purchasing the musical instrument.  Buyers would then wait for months and often years without a response in hopes that they would be contacted and invited to purchase a Hang in person in Bern Switzerland.

During Hang Product, PANart published a number of peachy documents nearly tuning, pattern, material, and forming methods that can be found Hither.

"Further collaboration betwixt art and science is needed to make it possible that other hang makers may exist in the future."  – Felix Rohner – 2007

Is the Hang a Handpan?

PANart has said many times that the Hang is not a handpan or a steel pan.  They explain that the Hang is tuned in ways that are not used in the tuning of handpans or steel pans particularly in regards to note structure and compages.  This has been direct challenged however by ane of the top authorities on the steel pan, Anthony Achong, writer of "Secrets of the Steel Pan, Unlocking the Secrets of the Science, Technology, Tuning and Operation of the Steel Pan". Achong frankly states at the finish of this commentary directly in response to PANart'due south claim:  "The Hang is a Steelpan (Pan) having express musical range (depression registers only) considering of the chosen method of straight hand playing."

Additionally, multiple handpan builders have explored and utilized the tuning techniques,architectural designs, and shell forming techniques published by PANart in the creation of their own handpans and pantam instruments.  Some handpan builders even base their entire design on emulating as closely as possible the original pattern and sound of the Hang.

Overwhelmingly, most people consider the Hang, handpan, and pantam to be the aforementioned family of instruments while of course each company has its ain brand name.  We by and large refer to the Saraz as a Handpan, notwithstanding our customers have chosen them "Handpans", "Hang Drums" and "Pantams".

Before the PANart Hang

Early on History of the Steel Pan

The Hang was far from existence a completely new cosmos.  In Achong's words quoted in a higher place, it is actually a modified steel pan. So it is important that we also consider the pregnant steps that lead to the development of the steel pan when talking about the history of the Hang, handpan or pantam.

Commencement and foremost, we must consider Trinidad and Tobago, the birth place of the steel pan.  On these islands, musical instruments were outlawed during the early 1900'south.  In rebellion, the locals began finding dissimilar things to pulsate on.  With oil product being so important on the isle, it was non long earlier the locals began  banging on the oil drums.  Afterward awhile, some people started shaping the drums to produce a number of different tones on the same pulsate.  Years later, the young Ellie Mannette, who is widely regarded as the father of the modern twenty-four hours steel pan, spent years developing the oil drum into a musical musical instrument.  When Marking Garner met him in 2012, Ellie said "I wanted to be able to play Mary had a picayune lamb or any other song on the steel pan".  Those earliest instruments were tuned by ear while existence shaped in the mosquito filled swamps of Trinidad before the "Pan Yards" became increasingly mutual on the island for steel pan production.  The following prototype is an early photo of immature Ellie and the Oval Boys at work in 1944. (Photo Courtesy of the endless talentedAndy Narell)

In those days, Ellie was focused primarily on tuning only the cardinal frequency of each note as he helped refine the simply new acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century.  The following video gives insight into the procedure and history while interviewing the man himself.

"Looking dorsum more than half a century during my humble beginnings in this unique art class, no ane during that period could have envisioned the rapid growth of this instrument. Through the years as I developed my skills, my entire mindset was sharing my noesis with others for the betterment of this instrument."  – Ellie Mannette

On a side note

Before the starting time Saraz had been birthed in 2012, Mark Garner traveled the world to seek out and watch some of the finest handpan and Steel Pan builders he could find including Ellie Mannette. Marking was deeply honored to spend some time with Ellie and watch over his shoulder while he tuned a lead steel pan.  Even at the age of 84, he was an absolute fire brawl that was still incessantly passionate about singing steel. In the following photo, Mark is introducing Ellie to the Halo Handpan, crafted by Pantheon Steel. The edifice fashion and pattern was unlike anything Ellie had ever seen before on singing steel.  Mark has said that "the experience felt similar bringing one of Ellie's grand children to meet him for the showtime time."

Ellie Mannette passed at the age of xc on August 29th, 2018.  We are endlessly thankful to Ellie for his astonishing lifetime of contributions and dedication to singing steel.  We are all here because of him.

The Steel Pan Matures

After years of refinement by non only Ellie but as well Winston Spree Simon, Anthony Achong, and many many others, the instrument continued to develop. From what we accept heard, information technology was in the 1960'south that the first person started tuning an octave harmonic along with the fundamental frequencies on each note. Afterwards another x-15 years, it became more mutual that the highest quality steel pan builders were also tuning another frequency on what developed every bit a shorter axis perpendicular to the octave centrality. This third frequency eventually became the compound 5th, which can be plant on high quality steel pans and handpans. Notwithstanding today, there are both steel pan and handpan builders that tune frequencies that are a 2nd, 3rd or 4th scale degree of the octave on the short centrality, however this leads more to a note with a sound that "cries" and results in what is more often than not regarded as a lower quality instrument. There is a magic in the primary harmonic ratio of a Fundamental, Octave, and Compound fifth.

The 1:two:3 frequency ratio in Steel Pan and Handpan notes

If we consider basic wave physics, the fundamental is one wave, which could exist represented as the pinnacle layer in the following diagram. The octave is exactly 2 waves that equal the same length as the fundamental, which tin can exist represented as the second layer in the diagram.  The compound 5th is exactly 3 waves that equal the same length every bit the central, which can be represented every bit the third layer in the diagram.  This 1:2:3 ratio is the nearly basic harmony possible and is perhaps responsible for some of the magic of both the steel pan and the handpan sound.

Tuning more than Frequencies in the Steel

In the 1990'due south, the top steel pan builders such every bit Ellie Mannette began tuning additional frequencies in the edges of larger notes.  These are more than commonly referred to as "shoulder tones" today.  On the early on steel pans with tuned shoulder tones, typically the tuner achieved a second octave harmonic.  For example, if it was an E3 cardinal note with an E4 octave harmonic on the long centrality, then the shoulder tone would ideally be an E5.  The second octave has exactly four loops in the same space as the one loop of the central.

While we take seen a few early Hang with shoulder tones that were quite close to in melody, the kickoff handpan builder to consistently and intentionally tune shoulder tones specifically on the center note was Victor Levinson, creator of the SPB.  Ezhan of Repeat Sound Sculpture wasn't far behind.  Mark Garner began learning nearly shoulder tone tuning in 2013. Marking and Josh have been tuning shoulder tones on the middle note of the Saraz since 2015.  Currently, we estimate that less than 10% of today'south handpan and pantam builders are able to tune the shoulder tones on their instruments while fifty-fifty less take the extensive fourth dimension and effort to practice the challenging chore.

History of the Gong and Gamelan Instruments

Handpan, Hang and pantam technology is very similar to the steel pan every bit the ii are tuned and constructed with incredibly similar variables, still, at that place are other influences that are besides quite influential on the handpan.  Another significant influence is the cardinal dome structure of gongs and some Gamelan instruments.  These dome structures appointment back hundreds of years on both instruments.  The dome structure was also being utilized by PANart in the 1990'south to control the upper partials of the membrane for a warmer and more controlled tone and timbre on their steel pans.  It was a natural transition for PANart to use the same structure when first developing the Hang.  Much more about the dome structure, its history and use on handpans can be found Hither.

Where did the names "Handpan", "Pantam", UFO Pulsate originate?

"Handpan"

Not long later on the Hang was being distributed, other people started trying to build them. We have heard that Marco Della Ratta was the starting time person to endeavour building a like musical instrument as early on equally 2002 or 2003.  Around 2007, Kyle Cox and Jim Dusin of Pantheon Steel, Luis Martin Eguiguren Garrido of Bellart, and Philippe Maignaut of Spacedrum were each trying to build similar instruments.  When more people started building these modified steel pans, PANart publicly stated that they did not want the trademarked term "Hang" or "Hang Drum" to be used for everyone'due south instruments and that instead that term should be reserved but for their specific musical instrument.  This was at the same time equally a rather significant rift on Hangblog.org, who besides stated that the web log was specifically for the Hang, which was congenital past Panart.  Non long afterward, Handpan.org was started with the proper noun being coined past Kyle Cox of Pantheon Steel.

"It was evident that the originators did not desire their trademarked name to be used as a generic term so one had to be invented. Since the mother fine art form of steel pan originated in Trinidad & Tobago, I respectfully sought to include the word 'pan'.  Since it is played by 'paw' it seemed quite obvious that we should call it a 'handpan'."  – Kyle Cox

"Pantam"

The term "pantam" was originally used by an Israeli PANart Hang Benefactor to describe the Hang. The term is a mix of steel pan and ghatam, the later of which is a dirt pot pulsate from Southern India.  The term "pantam" plant a resurgence of popularity when Victor Levinson, the creator of the SPB, started using it in 2014 to draw his own instruments. Many builders and players take since followed while the terms "Handpan" and "Hang Drum" are still considerably more pop.

"UFO Pulsate"

This term seemed to exist a upshot of people trying to figure out what the instrument was called while searching online for the name. The shape of the instrument no dubiousness looks similar to preconceived ideas of a unidentified flying object with aliens inside.  😉  Fifty-fifty today, we very commonly hear people say "it looks similar a UFO" when we introduce them to the instrument for the first time.   Very rarely practice we hear people actually apply this proper name for the family unit of instruments however.

Which term to use today?

Today, handpan, Hang Pulsate, and pantam are used interchangeably by many players and even some builders to draw not only these types of instruments but also tongue drums.  Some builders prefer that their instruments are called i of these specific names while many other builders simply practice not intendance.  For now, google trends shows that by far the term "Hang Pulsate" has dominated for years, however "handpan" has go every bit popular since early on 2017. These two are by far the most popular terms.  The 2018 fasten of the term "pantam" is closely related to the release of the "Pantam Stand", which is an instrument correspond handpan, Hang, pantam and tongue drums.  Perhaps in 100 years, ane of the names will boss.  More than on this topic can be found Hither.

Is the Hand Pan, Hang and Pantam a "Pulsate"?

Technically speaking, no, it is not specifically a drum in the proper audio-visual physics usage of the word.  The handpan, Hang, and pantam are considered technically part of the idiophone class of musical instruments.  Nearly percussion instruments that are not drums, are actually idiophones, which produce sound by the entire musical instrument every bit a whole vibrating.  Drums are technically membranophones that operate by a stretched material vibrating when being hit with a mallet or hand or when excited by friction or plucked.

Why are handpans, pantam and Hang chosen "drums"?

The elementary reason is because this is the term that most people including musicians commonly use to refer to many types of percussion instruments. Terms like idiophone and membranophone are very rarely used and even less commonly understood.  Imagine yous are trying to figure out the proper noun of the amazing instrument that PANart made, which is called the "Hang".  You search online for the give-and-take and find a broad array of search results however none of them have annihilation to practise with the Hang or handpans.  This is effectively why the term "Hang Drum" became so popular.

Many of today's near cutting edge handpan, Hang and pantam players are using techniques direct borrowed from frame drum and tabla playing techniques or rhythms used on conga, djembe and drum set.  The popularity of these instruments specifically with drummers and percussionists only further bridges the gap between these words nevertheless technically incorrect they are actually being used.

End of the PANart Hang

In 2014, PANart discontinued the production of the Hang in gild to focus on new instruments including the Gubal, Gudu,  HangBal, Pang Strings and other instruments from their Pang Material.

Exponential Explosion of Hand Pan Builders

While many people miss the Hang and were disappointed by the end of product, it has inspired a new generation of builders to dive into the latest chapter of tuned steel.  Some of them take picked up where PANart and steel pan builders have left off while others are exploring new possibilities. This new generation of builders have continued to develop and evolve the art course further with more than notes on the instrument, novel layouts, improved stability, boosted tuned frequencies like shoulder tones, new shell forming methods and exploration of alloys that don't crave nitriding for rust resistance.   Players and builders mostly agree that the instrument is still very young in its evolution and there are still far more directions of possible evolution.

The Saraz Paw Pan, one of the Earliest Builders

When the Saraz Handpan was born in 2012, there were 4 other builders crafting medium to high quality instruments and near 10 people world broad making annihilation resembling a handpan however poor of quality it may have been.   We have watched and helped grow the art form exponentially since that time.  Marker Garner, the founder of Saraz, was one of the first people world broad to first publicly and extensively sharing his building experiences and hard earned lessons on Handpan.org and in Facebook builder groups.  We take helped a number of other builders become started on their own journey with the hammer and besides enjoyed the synergy of them coming back later and sharing new ideas with us.

Nosotros also salute some of the other early pioneers that take help cultivate and foster the art form.  First is of course PANart, who published a number of swell papers on the topic.   Kyle Cox and Jim Dusin were first to sell equipment and tools for making handpans. Besides Matthieu and Delphine of Shellopan were the start to offer nitrided deep drawn handpan shells to other builders.  In combination with their building workshops, Matthieu and Delphine take helped unleash a new generation of builders.  Additionally, Ayasa has also started offer deep fatigued shells and other equipment.  Without these people, the earth might still exist where information technology was in 2012 when Mark and all of the other early builders learned primarily from trial and error how to non only tune simply develop and design high quality handpans.

The Irresolute Hand Pan Market

When Saraz started production in 2012, in that location was an absolutely insatiable need for anything even close to a handpan.  Completely out of melody junk regularly sold for over $2000 USD on ebay.  Even tongue drums were in high demand in those days and often had waiting lists.  We turned downwards thousands of people in the starting time 3 years of production only because nosotros could not even consider trying to keep up with the demand of people that wanted a Saraz.

Over the years even so, more and more builders have started crafting cute instruments. This is starting to bring residual to the supply and demand of the art form.  Upwardly until 2016, it was mutual to see second manus instruments flipped for thousands of dollars more their retail price.  However in recent years, these second manus prices have come up down significantly.  Hang that once sold for $x,000 – 12,000 rarely now sell for much more than than $v,000 if even that much.

In 2018, electric current estimates state that there are over 300 public builders of these instruments with more people existence inspired every twenty-four hour period to pick up the hammer.   This means that is now easier than ever before to find and purchase a handpan.

A Word of Caution

While there are more and more people creating instruments, one must however be careful and do their research earlier purchasing an instrument.  We accept seen over and over over again when someone purchases a cheap musical instrument from ebay or amazon only to contact usa afterward and ask if we tin can melody information technology (or cease building it) because it is a poorly tuned unstable instrument.

There are a number of groovy handpan builders in the earth today. Make sure to purchase one from a reputable builder that is highly regarded.   While there are more handpans than ever before, that ways that there are also more poor quality handpans than ever earlier.  Be aware that even some of the highest ranking companies on google search results produce some of the lowest quality instruments available.  Even some of the highest ranking sites that recommend certain builders are focused entirely on poor quality builders that are giving them a commission to advertise.  Seriously, practice your enquiry!

Magic of the Hand Pan, Hang and Pantam

There is a magic contained in these musical instruments. Peradventure it is the ratios of inherent harmony in each note or it is the novelty of sing steel to the man ear that touches people.  Perhaps is the ease of playing in one calibration and composing from a more emotional and kinetic inspiration. Perhaps there is just something magical about these instruments that goes beyond comprehension and understanding and speaks to u.s. somewhere more securely in our hearts and spirits. What ever the source of this magic may be, the handpan is here to stay.  It has a long path of continued development ahead of information technology for many more than decades and peradventure centuries into the future.

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Source: https://www.sarazhandpans.com/news/history-of-handpan-hang-and-pantam-drums/