Twenty-six handpans take the stage in Bengaluru

Twenty-six handpans were played together at a Bengaluru performance led by brothers Ranganathan S and Sriniketan S, bringing the instrument’s layered sound to a programme of traditional melodies.

The brothers began exploring the handpan during the pandemic. Their work has since developed into a public performance featuring a large ensemble of the convex steel instruments, played by hand across tuned tone fields.

Chirag Vaitheeswaran supported efforts to build a wider audience for the handpan in Bengaluru. The performance brought together players around an instrument that remains less familiar on the city’s stages than established percussion traditions.

The concert moved between rhythmic accompaniment and melody, with 26 instruments played together. The group said it aims to give the handpan a stronger place in the wider musical landscape.