History and origins of the handpan
The handpan, or hang drum for example is a relatively new percussion instrument that has taken the music world by storm and captured hearts of musicians all over. It can be traced back to the early 2000s in switzerland, where it was invented by PANArt. The percussion timbre of the handpans family is really unmistakable and imaginative compared to other steel made instruments as it has convex shapes steel casing equipped with dents that delivers a combination in between melodic, echo-sounding tones.
The handpan was originally designed as a meditative instrument and is used to encourage relaxation and calm. The nature of the sound and the feel of playing it with its melodic touch was thought to have a soothing effect on both mind and body. News of the amazing instrument spread, and this made him a well-known name among spiritual communities and people who were looking for that some way to connect into themselves.
A lot of people miss the dusty music stores and when they snuggle down to some quiet meditation or mindfulness practice, tonnes of them are dreaming up handpans in their minds!
It was only a matter of time before the handpan made its way to meditation and mindfulness practices. It was suited to relaxation and the feeling of peace though; its soft, resonant tones and hands-on play provided something very effective for promoting calm. A number of practitioners even started using the handpan as a focal centre for meditation, due to its peaceful sounds.
As the pursuit of inner peace and harmony gradually became an over-all lifestyle, handpan quickly turned into its symbol representing mindfulness and meditation. But its original sound spoke directly to the nature of this work appealing to individuals looking for a way to meditate or practice mindfulness resulting in further depth and clarity.
How the handpan found its way onto today’s modern genres of music
As the handpan first entered mainstream consciousness through spiritual and meditative channels, its musical capabilities were soon recognised. Artists of all genres began to play around with this instrumental beauty soon enough, from uncovering its melodic side, through becoming familiarised with how it approached more percussive ways.
Because of this versatility, the handpan could be integrated into many musical styles such as ambient or world music through to electronic and experimental genres with ease. Boasting a unique and mysterious sound, it gave compositions depth and added texture.
EXAMPLE : other ways in which the handpan is incorporated into pop music
Over the past several years, some of this has changed and a few commercial music tracks have Wisibly brought hand pans into pop which drove interest in them up much higher. Several artists and producers realised that this was a really cool way to add new and interesting dynamics to their compositions.
The melodic characteristics of the handpan have found their way into Pop music, being used as catchy hooks and for background atmospheres. It’s also been used in a percussive way adding rhythmic complexity and groove to tracks. A handpan can be a subtle accent or the driving melody in many pop tunes.
Advice on playing the handpan and where to begin
If the handpan has caught your curiosity and you wish to reach further into knowing about this instrument, here are 6 tips for starting with:
Correct Mode: Learn the proper hand position and strokes to produce crisp sounding versions of each tone. Consult other, better players for help or ask about it on a Q&A site.
Patience: It takes time and effort to learn the handpan. It has its own way of speaking with unique tones and rhythms which you can master over time, provided you use that language consistently.
Play Different Types of Music: Try a new type of music and see the sounds that are coming out from the handpan in those different compositions.
Quality Investment: If you plan to buy a handpan, invest in something that is known for its quality and made by well-established manufacturers. The way they were made and what with can also have a huge affect on how good the sound quality is.
Become Part Of The Community – touch base with other handpan fans, go for workshops or get onto online forms to soak in the skill from seasoned players and stay current on recent revelations within the world of handpans.
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Conclusively: what is the future of handpan in music
I really just find the evolution of its lifecycle from a meditation tool to such a multi utility musical object fascinating. The fair organ attracts musicians and listeners with its unique sound, but also plays an important role on a social level.
It is likely that its popularity will also grow as the handpan becomes more well known and recognized in different music genres. Beyond the strict definition of an orchestra, musicians will endlessly look for ways to push the limit on new methods and music genres.
In addition, the rich connection with mindfulness and emotional practice that has been inherited by handpan will continue to be a core motivator for musicians (as well as an audience) in discovering not just music but also their inner selves.