R.I.P Elliot „Ellie“ Mannette (1926-2018)
By sharing your love for Steelpans and your knowledge about singing steel and tuning, you have bestowed us with a priceless gift. Without you, there wouldn’t be any Pantams / Handpans / Hang – and without sharing your knowledge about tuning steel, these wouldn’t sound like they do!
Mannette, a machinist by trade, became a pioneer of the singing steel, when the British lifted the wartime carnival ban after World War II. He sank the lid to create a tensed playing surface and fired the metal to improve the acoustic properties. Over several decades, Mannette brought an even more sophisticated approach to pan tuning, using a stroboscope to analyze and shape the harmonic blend…
“Through the years as I developed my skills, my entire mindset was sharing my knowledge with others for the betterment of this instrument.” [Ellie Mannete]
Thank you Ellie, it is something big and beautiful that you have left for us !
Read about “The History of the Handpan”
Mannette’s contribution to the evolution of pan tuning, especially his use of the stroboscope, truly revolutionized how we understand and appreciate the instrument’s acoustic properties. It’s fascinating how his innovations have influenced not just traditional steel pans but also the development of handpans and pantams. I wonder how many modern tuners incorporate his techniques in their practice today?