PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS

Subject: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: GUEST,BtB - decookied methinks
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 04:09 AM

G'day,

Just heard Harry Belafonte on the wirelss. Not one of his Classic Calypsos, but it reminded me of the 44 gal Calypso Drums of the 50s. C'mon cobbers - point me to some sites with pointers on how to build a folk instrument out of a 44 gal drum. My last try went...

BANG

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 04:19 AM

I used to put Neatsfoot Oil on my Bodhran is this close to your description?

FWIW the correct onomaopaeic is

TING

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 09:30 PM

Isn't the USA & its 'Coalition of the Willing' currently trying to defend Oil Drums in Iraq at the moment?

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Nerd
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 04:58 PM

Try here

There are also books to be had in the library, including if I recall one by Pete Seeger!

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Nerd
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 04:59 PM

Also, the name of the folk instrument is steel drum, steel pan, steelpan or pan. So searching on these terms will help you a lot more than trying to search on "oil drum."

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:03 PM

The ones that have been made at the Smithsonian Folk Festival have benn from 55 gallon drums. I think the stretching of the top, into divided areas, is what gives the steel drum its tonal quality. I recall the makers chalking in the areas, then tuning by re-hammering repeatedly.

8-{E

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:07 PM

I didn't do enough of anything in the '60s to enjoy steel drums.

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:11 PM

They ARE something of an acquired taste- like banjos, bagpipes, accordians, etc.

Just think of them as a percussion harpsichord...

8-{E

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:13 PM

Great instrument, but a bit loud for a pub session. Best in a steelband, with the various sizes of pans.

But what's with the suggestion that steel bands have died out? Here a link with a site of pictures from last year's Notting Hill Carnival, in London complete with steel bands. (And here's a link to a site with info about the 2004 Carnival).

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Nerd
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:19 PM

Here's something I don't often say:

BeardedBruce is 100% right!

The standard drum size is 55 gallons, not 44, and that's exactly how they are tuned.

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Nerd
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:20 PM

Hey, why is this a BS thread? Seems perfectly musical to me.

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 06:20 PM

Nerd:

I must have made a mistake! (BG)... Ah, here it is- Perhaps the drums ARE 44 Imperial gallons.... Would that be 55 standard US gallons?

8-{E

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 06:31 PM

I think 205 litres is now the (UK) Standard...

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 06:35 PM

There are also standard 34 gallon drums- not sure if they make steel drums out of them or not. Should not be any problem- sort of like the various instruments in the violin family, or the old-time (20-30s) Banjo bands...

( image of steel drum made from Cambell's soup can...)

8-{E

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 12:22 AM

Hmmm...

A bit of a check up on 44 (Imperial) gallon drums, a while back, reminded me that Imperial : US gallons is not precisely 4 : 5.

55 US gallons is ~ 208 litres (OK - 208.197), while 44 Imperial gallons is almost exactly 200 litres (200.024) ... leading me to wonder if that saw the "original" design size!

Of course, if you find the developed steel drum too cerebral, you could try a search on (~) Les Tombeurs du Bronx ... a stage full of perspring French maniacs beating untuned old rums with baseball bats. (And their website was almost as good ... )

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 12:25 AM

Damn!

For what it's worth, that should have read:

"... a stage full of perspring French maniacs beating untuned old Drums ..."

but maybe that was also a factor ...

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Nerd
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 01:48 AM

Actually, you probably meant perspiring French maniacs...

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 02:53 AM

G'day Nerd,

Actually, I mean not to try to type left-handed while finishing off my lunch and mug of tea! (It might also be a good idea to hit the Preview check box before Submit!)

The moving types then strikes "Submit",
Not all my profanity - and less wit -
Can lure it back - or cancel half a word
of it ... Oh ...!

(And make that:

"... a stage full of perspiring French maniacs beating untuned oil drums with baseball bats ..." !)

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: PLEASE defend OIL DRUMS
From: Peace
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 03:49 PM

It would only improve the sound.