The Caisa drum was one of the first, and is now one of the most popular, Hang drum alternative HandPans available, for those who are left wanting in their search to own a PANArt Hang drum. Or at least, that’s how it was at the beginning. Because while the Caisa drum, produced by Bill Brown of Kaisos Steel Drums in Germany, may once have been seen as a poor mans Hang drum, in the early days of its existence, the Caisa, is now increasingly being seen as an instrument very much with its own merits, and not just a convenient and more readily available substitute for the Hang, when none are available.
Named after a Trinidad carnival chant, the word “Caisa!’ is used to show appreciation for a well delivered ‘Calypso’, a style of Afro-Caribean music, and the Caisa drum was originally nicknamed ‘the Mushroom’, due to the long wooden horn that protruded from the base of early generation Caisa. Later generation Caisa drum however have done away with this protruding horn-like apendage, and are now available in a variety of styles, from a very PANArt Hang looking model, through to a newer generation that Caisa that boasts a look very much its own, featuring a series of small holes cut circular around the tonal zones, and lacking the Hang’s ‘Gu’, the round resonating opening on the underneath of the lower dome.The Caisa drum as standard features between nine and twelve notes, is constructed from high-quality steel, comes in a blue-metallic color, has a diameter of 58-60cm, and weighs approximately 6 Kilos. However, Bill Brown, and Kaisos Steel Drums, over and above any other handpans manufacturer, have striven to push their creation, not just in terms of perfecting their instruments singing voice, but also its look, and design, to meet the desires of their ever growing fan-base. Which has not only led to their experimenting with various metallic and colored finishes, but has also led to such breakthroughs as the ‘Caisa Backpac’, a smaller, more portable version of the Caisa drum, specifically designed to meet the needs of buskers and travellers.
MORE INFORMATION: HandPans Magazine – The ‘Hang Drum’ Guide
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