The Steelpan Institute

ALLAN GERVAIS
I have in my possession a pair of Double Seconds. This pan was sent to me to be tuned. It was made by Mr. Allan Gervais 55 years ago. I am sure of the date because I was present when he made this pan in Montreal in 1967 while on tour with Esso Tripoli Steelband. I assisted in getting the drums for him. I was also lucky to spend the next3 months watching him work and asking question, all of which he answered ( except if he could hear the harmonics LOL). I have always been curious to know if Allan mastered the techniques of "Harmonic Tuning" I met him again in the early 1970s when I moved to Toronto.At that time I could now hear up to the 5th partial. I remembered asking him Again, on several occasions if he did but he would only smile.Now examining this pan, I am astonished at the quality of tuning he possessed. He achieved all the upper partials while at the same time suppressing the dominance of the octave, a problem which is challenging to the young tuners today.He also laid to rest the myth that you cannot tune a powerful note with the upper partials in it. Just go listen to Guiness Cavaliers' "Sixty Seven"!!! Allan's notes had maximum power, full harmonics, yet he was able to suppress the masking by the octave.He mastered this feature throughout the range of his pans. It is unfortunate that his techniques have been lost.

Hi Fellow Steelpan Builders and Tuners, I am presently completing a course at York university in Toronto. I have decided to study the current status of Steelpan Manufacturing and Marketing in Trinidad and Tobago and USA. This course is an independent study course. It is part of my course requirements for my Masters thesis on the Organology of the steelpan; just s fancy way of saying the study of the Steelpan instrument. I am extending an invitation to all Steelpan manufacturers in Trinidad and Tobago and in the USA to participate in this study. The results of this study will be made available to all participants. This is a formal study. I have to satisfy the university's Research Ethics protocols to ensure that privacy , confidentiality and respect for individuals are protected throughout this exercise. I will be making available , a consent document which will detail all the possible safegards afforded by the Research Ethics Board of the university. For example, to protect the privacy and data of participants,I shall use an alpha numeric coded identification system for each participant . All relevant instruments for identification and verification will be forwarded to you by mail( scanned email or hard copy snailmail.) I do hope you will participate in this exercise . You may contact me also at [email protected].... Yours Respectfully Ed Peters