What is the origin of the Handpan?

the Handpan is a musical instrument born from the workshops of PanArt, a Swiss company managed by Felix Rohner and Sabina Sharer. The Handpan, then baptized Hang by its designers, in reference to "the hand" in German-speaking Switzerland, finds its affiliation in the Ghatam.

This is why the Handpan is also called Hang Drum. Today, it is available for sale from many companies, such as ZenaPan, which offers the best handpans granted in D minor.

The Indian roots of the Handpan

The Ghatam, also called Ghara, derives its etymology from its primary function: to be a "water jug". The Ghatam is indeed neither more nor less than a terracotta water pot. Used in a roundabout way since the 8th century, it inspired the invention of a metal Ghatam, which became a Handpan.

This dream of a percussion instrument made of metal and capable of producing different notes is that of Weber Challenge who, in 1999, gave the idea to the company PanArt to create this brand new instrument.

The success was dazzling. The New-Age instrument, with its futuristic appearance, immediately integrated into its century, finding a passionate clientele. However, the company's momentum PanArt was going to be short lived.

After the euphoria of creation, the trials

Marketed by the company PanArt in 2000, the Hang was withdrawn from sale in stores in 2005, PanArt wanting to limit themselves to direct sales, and only on reasoned request. To the point that the instruments are scarce and demand far outstrips supply.

Musicians have to queue up to acquire one, and travel to Bern to purchase one, under cover of resale right of the PanArt company, which prohibits its sale for profit.

Nature abhors a vacuum, hang makers, then become Hang drum, rapidly multiplied. By its desire to control the entire industry, the PanArt company had itself created competing companies capable of responding to the increase in demand.

Aiming at copyright laws, PanArt has engaged in all-out legal disputes, attempting to ban the manufacture of its instrument by other firms, both in the United States and in Europe, with important victories, as against the Dutch company Ayasa.

A new instrumental invoice

The emergence of new production workshops, nearly 300 around the world, gave birth to a new instrumental quality. A multiplication of sounds has emerged. New musical associations were born.

thegal action, which has profoundly destabilized society Ayasa, summoned by the Dutch courts to put an end to its production, raised protests among all percussionists.

The very image of the PanArt company was tarnished and, under the argument of the distortion of their work, the question arose as to whether Felix Rohner and Sabina Shärer were not, on the contrary, seeking to impose a legal monopoly.

Still, the Handpan has indeed developed, and that nothing can stop the course of things. The Handpan has entered the great family of musical instruments, such as the violin, the saxophone or the harp, and nothing will be able to deprive the musicians to own and play this magnificent instrument, the Handpan.