Steel-pannist on mission to bring dignity to indigenous artform
By Esther Elijah
Guyana Chronicle
September 28, 2003
'My reason for starting my company and remaining in the steel pan business, in general, is due to the fact that the steel pan is an indigenous instrument created in the Caribbean. It never gained the respect it should have and for some reason it is despised. When I visited the U.S.A. in 1995 it was what I saw there that prompted me to bring all the steel panning technology into the Caribbean. This is our stuff but when you see what is happening with steel pans in the U.S.A. you'd want to believe it originated from there. Therefore, I want to do my best to revive steel pans for it to remain with us (in the Caribbean).' - Oliver Pross
A TRIP across the Atlantic on the shores of the United States where a Caribbean art form is fast becoming 'Westernised' caused Oliver Pross to embark on a personal mission to revive the dying culture of steel panning in his native Guyana for the generations who would surpass him.
While his arduous one-man effort might not have resulted in countrywide programmes to introduce the steel pans as the next big music-maker, or even caught the attention of the right people to allow his ideas to flourish, that sure is his intention.
What Pross has done, however, is open his own - 'OP Steel Pan Company', which operates out of Camptown Community Centre, First Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.
Only a year into its operation, Pross has been manufacturing for sale 'Grooveless' steel pans, an exciting breakthrough that produces in steel pans a new purity of sound unheard of until now in Guyana, and doubly able to blend with all other musical instruments.
Pross has spent more than 25 years in the steel pan band profession, as a player, arranger and tuner/maker.
He successfully completed Music Theory I, II and III with Distinction at the University of Guyana, Institute of Adult Continuing Education, plus gained Distinction in both Grades 4 and 5 Theory of Music from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music under the tutelage of Ms. Edith Peters (A.A).
An award of a partial UNESCO fellowship (1998-1999) enabled Pross to commence training in steel pan technology and construction at Solomon Steel Pan Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. - itself among the largest steel pan manufacturer in North America.
Phil Solomon, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company, who hails from Guyana, invented the 'Grooveless' steel pan in 1990, the latest technology in the production of steel pans, and he is currently rated as one of the best in the field.
In an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Pross said he was schooled for almost a year at Solomon's company learning how to perfect on his own the skill, which itself had taken Solomon years of research and experimentation in the U.S.A.
The use of grooves was the original method used to separate notes to keep their sound from bleeding into one another, according to Pross.
Then, in the 1970s, specific harmonic microtones were incorporated into notes for the same purposes. Solomon, who migrated to the U.S.A. in 1983, learnt that microtones alone could serve to separate adjacent notes.
Pross credits the elimination of grooves for lessening the problems associated with making steel pans, as well as the risk of punching holes in the metal during preparation.
In this latest technology, random stresses that build up around the groove of a steel pan disappear, resulting in balanced overtones in the pans that can easily be added to the fundamental tone, the steel pan veteran explained.
"Grooveless steel drums are the first with perfectly tuned overtones," according to Pross.
"Now notes, drums, and whole steel drum orchestras can be designed with specific harmonics. So, steel pans can blend with any ensemble group with traditional orchestra, combo or jazz instruments."
The methods used by Pross in supplying handcrafted, painted or chromed (metallic sheen) 'Grooveless' steel pans and instructing people how to use them, are among the most modern, locally.
Pross produces and supplies all kinds of 'Grooveless' steel pans - Single Lead Pans, Double Tenor Pans, Double Second Pans, Double Gitta (Guitar) Pans, Cello Bass Pans, Bass, Mallets and even Stands.
He maintains an affordable price tag for his steel pans - as low as US$300 per Single Lead Pan - in keeping with the Guyana economy and offers special discounts for schools and non-profit organisations.
A start-up 'Grooveless' steel pan ensemble comprising two single lead pans, one double tenor pan, one double second pan, two 'Gitta' pans and one Bass pan would cost G$550,000 to G$650,000.
Pross offers 75-minute duration steel pan training sessions at a cost of US$20 per session. Subjects taught include: Basics for steel pan, Principles and Techniques for steel pan performance and Music reading and writing for steel pans.
Pross said he returned to his homeland eager for an opportunity to contribute the skills he obtained in the U.S.A. to programmes that serve to teach Guyanese to manufacture and play steel pans. However, he claimed that a lack of interest shown in this area has been stifling his hopes, thus far.
His small clientele includes Queen's College, where steel panning is part of the curriculum.
Pross said he habitually volunteers his steel pan teaching skills at Queen's College and helps students prepare for functions at which they are required to play steel pans. He also lends a helping hand at the First Assembly of God Church, where he formerly served as Music Director prior to launching his company.
Seeing the strides Americans are making in applying modern technology to diversify steel pans - taking it all the way from High School to Colleges and unto the international market in CD format, Pross said he decided it was time to recapture the Caribbean heritage of steel pans.
"My reason for starting my company and remaining in the steel pan business, in general, is due to the fact that the steel pan is an indigenous instrument created in the Caribbean. It never gained the respect it should have and for some reason it is despised.
"When I visited the U.S.A. in 1995 it was what I saw there that prompted me to bring all the steel panning technology into the Caribbean. This is our stuff but when you see what is happening with steel pans in the U.S.A. you'd want to believe it originated from there. Therefore, I want to do my best to revive steel pans for it to remain with us (in the Caribbean)," Pross said.
"The American children are gravitating towards steel pans and playing the instruments at festivals, etc., while we in the Caribbean are doing nothing with our steel pans."
Growing up in Campbellville - once renowned for churning out some of the nation's best steel pan bands, Pross, now age 43, said he developed a love of steel pans as early as age 13, with Phil Solomon becoming his tutor in the art of steel drum-making while he was still a teenager.
Solomon once led his own steel pan band - Pegasus Sound Waves - that also featured Pross as a member of the group performing regularly at the Pegasus now renamed Le Meridien Pegasus.
When his mentor left for the U.S.A, Pross said he moved to Lethem in 1985 and formed the first ever eight-member steel pan band at the Lethem Assembly of God church, which also did performances for the entire community, especially during visits by dignitaries.
"Music in general is an asset - beneficial for students because many things are involved in the making of music. The strategies for making music are the same strategies you use to live," said Pross.
"As for music students, they add diversity to their repertoire when using a steel pan. Music educators know that playing a musical instrument increases awareness of rhythm, harmony and melody, which furthermore improves performing techniques, body movements and motor skills. Steel pans promote self-pride in students and teach them to work together as an ensemble."