Have you ever overheard the hypnotic sounds of the handpan drum and you’ve wondered what it is? The handpan (often called the hang drum) is a mysterious instrument and captivates its listeners with its fascinating sounds. So, how did this instrument become a worldwide phenomenon? Would you like to take a stroll through the past of the handpan, known as the hang instrument, and see how it became so musical?

What Is a Handpan, Hang Drum, or Pantam?

Although the handpan is a relatively new invention, other steel drum family similar instruments have appeared in recent years. Handpan drums are built individually and hand-tuned to the specific scale of the individual who is going to play them, meaning that musicians can easily make beautiful, harmonic music with little more than the drums in front of them. The fact that the handpan is accessible to beginners but at the same time holds something to offer both seasoned musicians makes it interesting. The term ‘hang’ for the instrument dates from its Bernese German origin, referring to the ‘hand’; it was originally carved and played as it is today.

The Birth of the Handpan

It has been since the late 1990s that PANArt Hangbau AG was founded in Bern, Switzerland, by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer, who invented the first-ever handpan. Inspired by a hand percussionist, Reto Weber, who had the idea to make the steelpan portable and handplayable. In 2000, after several trials, the first Hang instrument (Hang) was born. The Hang had a unique design… eight notes that were arranged in a circle around a central note, which became the Hang’s badge: the ding.

Early Production and Popularity of Handpan

At the Musikmesse in 2001, the first generation Hang was introduced by PANArt and received instant attention for its weird shape and ethereal sound. Initial quantities of these early hang drums were produced and were available from 2001 to 2005. YouTube quickly took off in 2005 with the videos of players performing, and players across the world began to flock to the Hang. An ever-growing fan base resulted from the instrument’s beauty and unique sound.

The Elusive Hang

It was getting more and more popular, but it was getting more and more difficult to get a Hang. Buyers were forced to write hand written letters explaining why they wanted the instrument, under strict conditions set by PANArt. In a few cases, buyers would wait months or even years before a response. The Hang was a rare and exclusive instrument, frequently coveted after by musicians.

The Steel Pan Connection

First, the roots of the handpan drum go back to steel pans in Trinidad and Tobago. Musicians in Trinidad took discarded oil drums and turned them into musical instruments starting in the 1940s and the steel pan was born. The handpan was created based on an instrument that Ellie Mannette and other innovators perfected. Steel is used for both instruments but the handpan offers greater detail in the tuning system and is more portable.

Tuning and Design of Evolution

In the early days, these steel pans were tuned to one fundamental frequency. However, as the handpan was refined by handpan makers, additional harmonics were added to the scales, making for more complex, more resonant sounds. A key feature in modern handpans is the 1:Frequencies of an arrangement of harmonic intervals that would encompass three of these: the fundamental, octave, and compound fifth (2:3 frequency ratio). With this system, this rich melodic tone is reached, that everybody loves in a handpan drum.

Two other kinds of gongs are small mortars, which are composed of two hemispheres joined together, and a large trough for pounding rice known as montok gadung (fondly referred to as montok atau segele).

Other than the steel pan, the handpan also borrows from other musical traditions. The handpan was designed based on Gongs and Gamelan Instruments, which are domed shapes and resonant properties. In order to create a more harmonic (more of a chime) and ethereal sound, PANArt incorporated these into the Hang. The steel pan is unique in that these elements played a part in giving birth to a true one-of-a-kind and versatile instrument.

Even if we now have a selection of options available to us, for decades, we’ve had to either make our own handpans or rely on one existing maker who provided us with only limited options.

In 2014, production of the Hang from PANArt was stopped to concentrate on other musical projects, emptying the handpan market. However, it also opened up the creation of new makers who would experiment with their designs, tunings, and materials. It was only then when the handpan market exploded, and everywhere there appeared new makers from around the world. They brought in new designs, coming up with more notes, new tunings, and acoustics in the handpans.

From Innovations In Design And Tuning

The introduction of more than the traditional eight notes was one of the most notable innovations in the handpan drum community. Hang drums in the early versions had eight or nine notes; nowadays, modern handpans can possess a melodic scope of fifteen or more notes. Furthermore, new handpan makers explored alternative layouts and tunings (playing styles and musical genres). Additionally, handpans received advances in tuning technology, to make sure sound quality and stability stayed consistent between handpans.

Improved Materials and Construction

Today, most handpan makers are now using stainless steel, or sometimes proprietary alloys, in an attempt to give more longevity to the instrument, as well as altering the acoustic qualities. Handpans made with these materials, using modern metalworking techniques, have resulted in better sound projection, longer sustain, and thus greater access to and demand for the instruments from musicians.

The Growing Community

Due to this rise in the popularity of handpan, there has also been a rising number of musicians, enthusiasts, and makers. With all these online platforms and social media, we are no longer the players isolated; the knowledge is shared, tutorials are offered, and the handpan lovers are connected together. The cosmos handpan has also been promoted through unique festivals and gatherings that host individuals and allow them to celebrate this instrument. The hang drum has grown to be much more than a tool – it’s a symbol for a global movement for music.

Terminology of Handpan

Handpan, hang drum and pantam are often used interchangably, but they have different meanings. The most accepted name for these instruments made by various makers is ‘Handpan,’ coined by Kyle Cox of Pantheon Steel. The term hang drum is generally used to refer to the original instruments manufactured by PANArt whereas the term pantam carries with it the essence of the global musical tradition that went into the creation of this handpan.

Conclusion

Starting out as a tiny acoustic toy in Australia and ending up as an instrument of worldwide recognition, the hang drum has been a fascinating instrument, both in generations and in the manufacturing process. With its gorgeous sound and its approachability, the handpan has been coveted by musicians the world over. From a personal musical tool to a healing instrument and a means of creative expression, the handpan drum invites more people to become immersed in its melodic potential, first in the way the handpan drum was used by so many instrumentalists and musicians, and now gaining attention from the percussion world, community drummers and others, who experiment with the handpan drum in brand new ways.