The Handpan is a musical instrument born in the workshops of PanArt, a Swiss company run by Felix Rohner and Sabina Shärer. The Handpan, then called Hang by its designers, in reference to ‘the hand’ in German-speaking Switzerland, finds its roots in the Ghatam.
For this reason, the Handpan is also called Hang Drum. Today, it is available from many companies, such as ZenaPan, which offers the best handpans tuned in D minor.
The Indian roots of the Handpan
The Ghatam, also called Ghara, derives its etymology from its main function: to be a ‘water vessel’. In fact, the Ghatam is nothing more or less than an earthenware water vessel. Used indirectly since the 8th century, it inspired the invention of a metal Ghatam, which became the Handpan.
This dream of a percussion instrument made of metal and capable of producing different notes belongs to Reto Weber, who in 1999 gave the idea to the company PanArt to create this brand new instrument.
It was a resounding success. The futuristic-looking New Age instrument was immediately integrated into his century and found a passionate clientele. However, the momentum of the PanArt company was to be short-lived.
After the euphoria of the creation, the tests
Launched by the company PanArt in 2000, the Hang was withdrawn from sale in shops in 2005, as PanArt wanted to limit itself to direct sales, and only on motivated request. So much so that the instruments are becoming increasingly rare and the demand far exceeds the supply.
Musicians have to queue up to buy one, and travel to Bern to purchase it, under PanArt's resale right, which prohibits the sale of instruments for profit.
As nature abhors a vacuum, Hang manufacturers, which later became Hang drum, multiplied rapidly. In its eagerness to control the entire industry, PanArt created competing companies capable of meeting the growing demand.
Taking aim at copyright laws, PanArt engaged in legal disputes of all kinds, trying to prohibit the manufacture of its instrument by other firms, both in the United States and in Europe, with important victories, such as against the Dutch company Ayasa.
A new type of instrument making
The appearance of new production workshops, nearly 300 worldwide, gave rise to a new instrumental quality. A multiplication of sonorities was born. New musical associations were born.
The lawsuits, which have deeply destabilised the Ayasa company, which was ordered to cease production by the Dutch court, have provoked protests among all percussionists.
The PanArt company's own image was damaged and the question was raised whether Felix Rohner and Sabina Shärer were not trying to impose a legal monopoly on the handpan, arguing that their work had been undermined.
The fact is that the handpan has developed and nothing can stop it. The handpan has entered the great family of musical instruments, like the violin, the saxophone or the harp, and nothing can prevent musicians from owning and playing this magnificent instrument.
Start playing music yourself and buy your first handpan.