Amongst all the obscure instruments Earth has to offer, the Handpan is by far one of the most beautiful. Like a softly-toned steel drum, each percussive tap on the metal dome transforms gentle rhythms into haunting melodies, reverberating ancient, soul-stirring music that goes hand in hand with spiritual cleansing and meditation.
Every now and then, a handpan vid goes viral and, more often than not, viewers are enchanted by a single player conjuring ethereal tones in peaceful solitude. But in October ‘23, YouTube handpan sensation Malte Marten uploaded one of the most unique performances of this rare instrument to date — collecting 20 players in what could well be the world’s first handpan choir and creating the most sublime music The Music Man reckons you’ll hear today!
This unmissably unique handpan choir stirs up mood music that’s fit for a world-class spa, each white-gowned instrumentalist tapping their lap-drums in hypnotic synchronicity. The warm, glassy tones echo majestically when matched with other handpans, each melodic rhythm layered blissfully upon another and crafting an oddly nostalgic soundscape, both enlivening and relaxing as the music carries one towards enlightenment.
When the choir begins to vocalize over the captivating sound of their instruments, a true moment of raw humanity emerges, like peering back in time to the most ancient sounds of spiritualism. Despite the choir’s initial cultist appearance, it’s clear that only blissful vibes are allowed to blossom here.
With 785.9K YouTube views to date, this viral vid leaves The Music Man wondering, how can Malte Marten possibly collect such a remarkable number of handpan players in one space? It turns out that Malte, self-professed handpan pioneer, organized this ‘joyful moment’ with his then-latest “retreat” group. Hosted in Germany, both new and seasoned handpanists can pay up to €1800 for a week of music and dance workshops in picturesque Neu Darchau, staying at a riverside location and empowered by a detoxifying menu of bio-vegan whole foods.
As one of a small handful of famous handpanists, Malte Marten shares his pure vision of “connecting people through the transformative power of handpan music” through his online courses. His teaching method, titled the Malte Marten Method, places emphasis on hands-on experience, guiding students towards the spiritual flow of playful and explorative creativity, whilst acknowledging and catering to each player’s authentic style of expression.
If you would like to hear more from this talented artist you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music. You can also follow Malte Marten on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their Website for more updates.