Secrets of the Steelpan - A Book Review by Hang-Maker Felix Rohner.

Whether Felix Rohner would wish to be known as the “Father of HandPan” is debatable.  He has, reportedly, shown a strong dislike for the “HandPan” moniker being applied to PANArt’s own creations - preferring them to be called purely, “Hang”.  But as the inventor of the instrument type (along with Sabina Scharer), that is most commonly now known as “HandPan”, the title is fitting.

So when Felix Rohner decides to publish a book review, anybody with more than a passing fascination with this instrument form, should find interest within it.

Rohner begins the review with a nod to the work, “The Physics of Musical Instruments”, by Thomas D. Rossing, and Neville H. Fletcher.  Acknowledging its importance in both the creation of the Hang, and more recently, the Gubal.  Before continuing on to discuss the book in question, “Secrets of the Steelpan”.

Secrets of the Steelpan, is a work by one, Dr. Anthony Achong, from Trinidad.  Who, according to Felix Rohner, has spent a life-time, working with “sounding sheet metal”.  

Secrets of the Steelpan is, Rohner states: a 1200 page extensive study, and summary of this lifetime of work, and experimentation with steel, by Achong. Before continuing to explain why the information contained within this tome, is of so much importance, to the modern-day tuner...

>> Read the Full Review Here <<


* It has been noted by some, that Secrets of the Steelpan is quite a technical work. And could make for a challenging read, for those with little familiarity with the art-form.

The PANArt Logo / Branding - As Seen on First Generation Hang

The PANArt logo, or brand, appeared across the first generation of Hang in a number of different styles.  The earliest PANArt Hang (at least from number 65, up until 759) featured the following style of brand...



The style is very similar to the PANArt logo featured on the sticker found inside each first generation Hang...


Later first generation Hang feature a different style of brand (I'm gonna' guess that it came into use somewhere in the early thousands, but could easily be wrong), that PANArt seemed to settle on for generations to come.  The same style of logo also features on later generation Hang, and can also be seen on PANArt's more recent creation, the Gubal.


The text no longer slants as it did in earlier first generation Hang.  And it tends to look a little more machine applied, than hand applied (but maybe Felix and Sabina just got better at doing it).

One anomaly, that I've stumbled across recently, can (just about - I'll try to get a better photo soon) be seen in the following photo...




Which features a small "a", in the brand.  And featured on Hang number 933.  So this particular style may have been an experimental brand that was toyed with, before the more standardised form featured previously was settled upon.

As a point of note, first generation Hang were offered by PANArt between 2001 and 2005.  And approximately 4300 first generation Hang were produced. You can watch them being made by PANArt in the documentary titled, "Hang: A Discreet Revolution": HERE
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