I was wondering if any of you have played flutes by Stéphane Morvan and/or Solen Lesouef?
I’d be especially interested to know if you can compare them with your experience with flutes from other reputable makers.
I know JMV plays Morvan flutes, which is quite the endorsement.
After having played a delrin flute by Francois Baubet exclusively the last many years I am on the lookout for a wooden flute again (keyless initially, perhaps keyed). I considered getting on Patrick Olwell’s waiting list, but beween the wait for a keyless and the import tax/VAT I’ll end up paying on it, I am seriously considering a european maker. Hence my question
I play a Morvan 8 key flute in cocus, but I haven’t played a Lesouf. Physically, the Morvan is heavier and has a larger circumference than most flutes I have owned, which matters only if you have joint problems. The tuning is excellent. I always liked its sound which on my lips is “fat” (lots of centre) as opposed to “thin” (edge but no body). If I manage a focused airstream while blowing down, it produces lots of overtones (reedy), but it doesn’t lose its “solid” quality. I find that its tone is more complex than my Hudson Siccama that has a very similar bore to a Pratten (Hudson went on to make the Pratten’s Perfected). The keys work well, but I have short fourth fingers so I find the G# touch a little far away, and I can’t easily play all the keys on the foot joint, so I roll it depending on the need for C/C# vs Eb.
I have no experience with a Morvan, however I play both a Baubet delrin and a Lesouef mopane 6-key. The Lesouef is thinner and, even with the keys, seems lighter to hold than the delrin Baubet. The Lesouef is very nicely made, both structurally and aesthetically. Lovely tone once I adjusted a bit to the embouchure cut. A very nice flute and highly recommended.
Thank you for the valuable and specific input so far.
I also found sound samples on Blayne Chastain’s SoundCloud that he made for the Irish flute store
Where he plays flutes by both makers.
My sense is that the Lesouef flute is more refined in tone and in playing characteristic than the Morvan which is more open. https://soundcloud.com/blaynechastain/solen-lesouef-irish-flute-key-of-d https://soundcloud.com/blaynechastain/stephane-morvan-6-key-rudall
Again the samples are not recorded at the same time and are in case of the Morgan flute not of the design he is selling now.
More input is welcome.
I’d love to be able to play them side by side myself but the next best thing is probably ordering one.
The price is also a factor. A keyless Morvan is twice the price of a Lesouef.
…
Ah to feel the buzz and excitement of looking at new flutes again
I have played several of both makers 's flutes and I have liked all of Lesouef’s flutes, definitely not the case for Morvan’s flutes. Lesouef is definitely on the up side and I believe her flutes will become more valuable as time goes by. In other word grab them when the wait is not too long…
You can’t go wrong with any of these flutes.
Morvan’s new design is very different now and not as larger as described here before. And it’s shorter too. Blowing is even easier as you need really less air to play it. Tone is rich in all octaves, there’s no weakness.
Lesouef flutes are also easy to play and tone is great too. Maybe I would prefer Morvan’s keywork…
Feeling and choice are so personal…
Well, I’ve been in correspondance with Solen and put myself on the list for a keyless as well as a keyed flute.
7 months wait for a keyless. I can do this. I think.
cheers
Not played the Morvan flutes - he’s too far south of France to travel to try for me.
I love my Solen Lesouef keyed flutes and the really funky keywork. Her embouchure plates are super and warm up really fast too. I used to have a few Rudall & Rose conical flutes - sold these due to the fussiness and terror of a future potential crack in such an aged instrument. Very different tonal quality - the Lesouef is designed on the Rudall Rose and sounds just as sweet and sultry, but not as creamy as the original Rudall Rose. It sounds more powerful (the large hole version) and it looks utterly amazing.
Hope you love yours. Btw - you can trade in the keyless for a keyed version later too. She’s such a wonderful luthier and the intonation of her flute are impeccable.
His website currently says he’s in Finistère. I’m pretty sure I’ve had recent contact with Breton connections who’ve said they live near him. Certainly no-one has mentioned him moving away. Why not ask him?
I have played neither but since you mention Olwell you may want to look at Glenn Watson’s flutes. They certainly have that burr that Olwells are famous for. I have a Greet LeJunne flute that is very nice as well. I wanted cocus and eight keys and did not want to wait 100 years. His list was reasonable and he had the wood so I gave that a shot sight unseen. I am pleased.
In the meantime I have placed an order for both a keyless and 6-key flute (mopane) from Solen.
Last friday I even had a chance to play one of her flutes at the local session. So I both got to try the flute and get my *ss out to a session for the first time in years. Double win (Thanks Tim!!)
I also placed an order with Patrick Olwell, because, well, you know…
Ah to feel the old excitement post order flute wait. First time in 8 years I’m buying new flutes.
Upside is I’m already playing more on the flute I do have.
I recently met a Glenn Watson 6-key African Blackwood flute, my first encounter with one of his, which came to me for some minor fettling (new tenon cork, a few adjustments). I was very impressed by how it played - responsive with plenty of oomph and a great low end. Good embouchure cut, low air demand for big return, good timbre. (Pity it had no low C#/C!) The general craftsmanship was good - very tidy - though not the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how old/far back in his production it is - current owner had it 2nd hand. It’s a surprisingly light-weight flute in the hands, too.
Ok! Needs to update his website, then.
unless you have a good reason for doing so, and he does. 