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Steel pans history
During British Colonial rule of Trinidad in the 1800's, hand drums were used as a call for neighbourhood gangs to collect and 'mash up' with the other gangs. Hoping to curb the violence, the government outlawed hand drums in 1886. Deprived of the drums, the Trinidadians turned to the 'Tamboo Bamboo', where each member of the group would carry a length of bamboo and pound it on the ground as the group walked through the streets, producing distinctive rhythmic 'signatures' which identified each gang. One day in the late 1930's, during a particularly rough iron band session, somebody discovered that a dented section of barrel head produced a tone. There are two competitions, one for the popular songs of the year, and a separate contest which showcases both the technical ability of each band and the versatility of the steel drum by presenting highly orchestrated classical pieces. Fifty years after the first such contest, the rivalries between steel bands still exist, but manifest themselves in an excellent quality of musicianship. It have different kind of steel bands: Lead ("tenor") Pan, Double Tenor Pan, Double Seconds Pan, 'Cello pan,Quadrophonics, Bass pan.
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