The birth of the steel drum: Kevin Martin at TEDxChesterRiver

Kevin Martin, musician and instructor, has a passion. For years, he has been studying, performing with, composing for, and building the only instrument created in the 20th century: the steel drum. Kevin's talk and performance gives us insight into the social history, the musical potential, and the future of this melodic, percussive instrument.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@octojake]

Enjoyed the passion and the history of a great instrument. The product of the music brings a joyful feeling. Wonderful presentation by a talented historian and the music played by them is great. Thank you, Ted.

[@greshengaines7099]

thank you Chris
my dad (Kevin) would love to see this comment

[@nimgs]

It would really be nice yo see the steel pan/drum reach to a similar level as the violin, the piano or any other mainstream musical instrument

[@bakayad3196]

I cringe every time I hear you say the word "DRUM" . The instrument is called a "PAN" - If you gonna educate, please do it correctly. Now you have thousands, possibly millions of people misinformed and refer to these wonderful instrument as a drums . A drum is a Membranophone - A Pan is an Idiophone. - These are two entirely different classes of instruments with different architectures. -Much Peace

[@russellsantana]

Pretty much an identifier of those who are not from T&T or the Caribbean. The fact is, "steelpans" are in the tradition of ALL great African Diaspora drumming, and having their origins in abandoned oil drums, it makes sense that outsiders (or even natives) would call them "steeldrums." They ARE drums, as they are descendants of all great African drumming, as is found in other great drumming cultures, i.e., Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc. In fact, T&T is one of the few Diaspora ENGLISH-speaking countries which reestablished its drumming culture (unlike the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Diaspora countries, whose enslaved peoples were able to retain their drums). So, there should be some pride in calling steelpans "drums." In fact, T&T is the ONLY Diaspora drumming culture whose drums actually communicate not only rhythm but also MELODY, making T&T steelpans unique in the African Diaspora drumming world. Despite their technically being idiophones and not membranophones, they are descendants of African drumming-which was able to survive colonial suppression in T&T. Nonetheless, you are right...to natives and true aficionados...they are "STEELPAN"!

[@oldoten1]

I appreciate the history and the passion behind his love for the instrument and the country of origin. My only concern is the use of the word "voodoo" for something about the drum he doesn't understand. The beauty of the instrument is enhanced by the unstructured nature of its origin. The fact that people who, because colonization, were left with little and made music is history that should be shared.

[@dwightstorey2879]

I love the sounds of those drums .

[@greshengaines7099]

I know right

[@jahbaripaul320]

It's a pan not drum

[@stanislausbrown8626]

At the risk of sounding like an elitist asshole, pan is more than just an instrument. Pan, essentially, is a prayer. Pan is a wild, savage thing for a reason. Pan is, and has always been, the voice of the rebel in the dark. The voice of the dirt people shaming the sky people. You can standardise the instrument, but the prayer will not be there.

[@ianlindhartsen6445]

On one hand, I feel like that started a good time ago, especially with the sponsoring of steel drum bands. On the other hand, change is sometimes inevitable and growing pains can be a good thing. I don't know too much about the situation in Trinidad, but both you and the speaker for this talk have valid points.

[@owoswaldalexander8216]

The first pans were hammered outwards as the bottom of the refrigerant tank is,so that is old,old school in Trinidad and Tobago.

[@RajKumar-vh3ps]

Ow Oswald Alexander

[@DZ-oo3zw]

I had to find out where this steel thing came from ? Well said professor

[@TheBardapple]

it is a steelpan also called steel drum not a steel drum also called steel pan

[@greshengaines7099]

the same thing

[@jahbaripaul320]

@@greshengaines7099 no it's not drums don't have 64 musical notes

[@TheBardapple]

the rythym is cut time. its one two, one two, not 1234

[@greshengaines7099]

can you not point out the smallest things about my dad
he must of been nervous

[@sterlinian]

need to dig much more.

[@greshengaines7099]

he does that at schools

[@designpulse]

Good attempt at the history, but you need to dig a little deeper. The first steel pans were just as that tongue drum.

[@realsteelreggae7880]

Good job brother

[@trini2DBone134]

nice video but i wish foreigners would stop calling it a "steel drum". It's a pan now, no longer an oil drum!

[@caribbeanjazzfusion1999]

You only skimmed the surface of the History..and it's "Trinidad and Tobago" not just Trinidad ..and firstly the instrument's birth began with "bamboo" .. research the T&T term "tamboo bamboo" .. restart your historical research from there ...thanks...

[@greshengaines7099]

he knows tamboo bamboo, he goes to schools and makes a whole band that does tamboo bamboo and dont ask how i know this... because i am his son

[@caribbeanjazzfusion1999]

@@greshengaines7099 ...good to hear ...the dude that left the cut time comment is a good dude to hit up on the history of the instrument...don't be shy to contact him...he's aight..

[@andreanarine8179]

🤣🤣🤣 Culture Vulture. He must never have heard Ray Holman's Starlift rendition of the Beatles' "Penny Lane."