By SEETA PERSAD Saturday, February 13 2010

He invested more than US$1 million in his invention and is now ready to put the instrument on the market.

“I have been calling on the government of this country through several e-mails but with no reply,” said Cupid, who told Newsday he took out loans and invested his life’s savings in the project.



Cupid, who is currently visiting Trinidad, brought the instruments to Newsday’s offices this week to demonstrate how it works. He was able to play several soca and calypso tunes by simply touching the notes on the E-pan. He turned up the volume and the sound was magnificent. “While I agree that the acoustic instruments can never be replaced, there is need to improve on this instrument in order to put it on the world market,” he said.



Cupid said he was inspired to create the electronic steelpans after an experience during a performance where the microphones were not arranged properly and the audience could not hear the ‘clean sound’ of pan.



This new pans, which retail for US$3,000, have more than 128 notes.



“Calypso has always been an integral part of Caribana celebrations, and now the heart and soul of Caribbean music is being revolutionised with the E-pan,’ he said.



The electronic instrument can be played the same way as a traditional steelpan with sticks known as mallets, or it can be played with your fingers.



“With the traditional barrel-made steelpan you can only play one or two notes at a time. Now you can make a chord of ten notes if your fingers can reach it,” he said.



Cupid, who left TT in 1992 to teach pan in Canada, is a music teacher at the Rosedale Public School. After 14 years in the making and various utility patents for instruments being granted, the production version of the E-pan was played at the launch of Scotiabank Caribana 2009.



Cupid said he believes the new technology will change the way the steelpan is played.



“Over the years, steelpans have never been on the road with a calypsonian or a band. When you want a pan song — a keyboard is set to steelpan. Now a pannist could get a job and he can actually take the keyboardist’s work if he wants to.”



The E-pan features a wide selection of popular instrument tones, ranging from the piano and violin to the trumpet. Cupid said this makes the possibilities endless for pannists.



“This will give the steelpan player an even playing field with the other instruments out there like the keyboard and violin that have already been electrified.”



He said most people still think steelpans can only play on the beach and play calypso, but steelpans can play any song — be it Mozart or jazz.