If you dwell within Italy, and find yourself searching for a HandPan (be it your first, or otherwise), geographically, and demographically, you can count yourself among the best placed of HandPan hunters there are. Because Italy has fast become a true hub; of HandPan-making activity.
At time of posting, other than the U.S. perhaps - no country offers more choice, for the HandPan-hungry seeker.
Why Italy has become such a plentiful mecca of HandPan production is unknown. Does the country harbour a greater interest in all things HandPan than other lands, in general? Or is there something going on there, in terms of a greater sharing of information, and teaching of skills, that has led to more makers?
We’ve no idea. We could probably ask - but we enjoy the mystery of it all. :)
Regardless - at time of posting, few country's wares feature more frequently on our main list of HandPan makers, than those of Italy. So that while the first Italian-made HandPan, the MDR Disco Armonico, sat lonely for a while - it has now surrounded itself with one of the largest country-specific lists of HandPan makers out there…
At time of posting, other than the U.S. perhaps - no country offers more choice, for the HandPan-hungry seeker.
Why Italy has become such a plentiful mecca of HandPan production is unknown. Does the country harbour a greater interest in all things HandPan than other lands, in general? Or is there something going on there, in terms of a greater sharing of information, and teaching of skills, that has led to more makers?
We’ve no idea. We could probably ask - but we enjoy the mystery of it all. :)
Regardless - at time of posting, few country's wares feature more frequently on our main list of HandPan makers, than those of Italy. So that while the first Italian-made HandPan, the MDR Disco Armonico, sat lonely for a while - it has now surrounded itself with one of the largest country-specific lists of HandPan makers out there…
* MDR Disco Armonico
* Panormus Drum
* Vision Instruments
* db HandPan
* Blesspan
* Shakti Pan
* Meraki Instruments
* Soul Pan
And no doubt this list will very soon (if it isn't already) become outdated, as even more Italian HandPan makers step-forward, and swell their numbers.
As a point of note, the moniker, "Disco Armonico" (meaning "Harmonic Disc), was used in the sale of PANArt Hang within Italy, in the early years when Hang could be purchased through a small network of retailers. And at time of posting, the term still seems to cultivate some use among Italians, in place of the words "Hang", or "HandPan".
