Old Louis Lot Flute vs. Modern Brannen Flute [19th vs. 21st Century Flute]

Подписаться 22 тыс.

Просмотров 20 тыс.

50% 1

Can an 1892 Louis Lot Flute compete with a modern 2019 Brannen Flute? Lance Suzuki puts these two flutes to the test playing music of the late 19th Century. This Louis Lot Flute was restored around 2015 and is on loan from Bill and Ann Greenwald.
MUSICAL SELECTIONS:
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor (1884)
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G Major (1889)
FLUTES:
Louis Lot Flute (1892): Silver Plated, Open Hole, C Foot
Brannen Brothers Flute (2019): 10K Rose Gold tubing w/ Silver Keys, Lafin Headjoint, Split E, C# Trill, B Foot
ABOUT MY CHANNEL:
My goal with this channel is to help inform and inspire your flute practice, whether you are a developing flutist, an adult amateur, flute teacher or just a lover of flute music and all things flute. Subscribe to my channel ( / lancesuzuki ) for more flute reviews, tutorials, tips and tricks, as well as live performances of etudes and other flute repertoire.
💕Great Flute Etudes (Best of): • Favorite Flute Etudes
ABOUT ME:
Flutist Lance Suzuki has been consistently praised for his "gorgeous flute tone" (NY Times), as well as his "captivat[ing]" (NY Concert Review) and "mesmerizing" (NY Classical Review) performances. As a chamber musician and soloist, Lance Suzuki has appeared at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Marlboro Music Festival, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 92nd St Y and live on NPR's Performance Today. A committed educator, he serves as President of the Hawaii Flute Society and teaches students of all ages and abilities. Find more about me at www.lancesuzuk....
ONLINE FLUTE LESSONS: www.lancesuzuk...
#louislot #brannenflutes #flute

Опубликовано:

29 сен 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 100

@tootles7568 4 года назад

I found this so interesting. The Louis Lot flute had a gorgeous tone .

@gcg8187 2 года назад

He plays both very well. Brannen has the modern open sound, for more projection and power. The lot sounds less fluid but has that flute charm that we are used too. Many people have heard rampal records, maybe even moyse or nicolet, its a new era of flute now. personally i feel like there is a korean sound that is very modern, not sweet at all but yubeen kim is one of the best ever for me

@ellamichaud6061 Год назад

I felt the Louis Lot’s tone was superior with the higher notes, but the Brannen was superior overall, especially in lower tones and was better balanced overall. I’d love to play either, but would choose the Brannen for myself.

@nilsonmascolo 4 года назад

Both are wonderful, but the sound of Lous Lot is more beautiful and charming.

@davidkang6433 4 года назад

The Louis Lot sounded much more like an older flute, delicate, and not really powerful while the Brannen sounded much more modern, powerful, projecting, and more "in your face"

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

I 100% agree. I think the way that they respond to air directly affects the resulting sound. The Brannen responds extremely quickly while the Lot takes more effort to produce sound and is more resistant. I love old flutes, so I don't mind the resistance. Also, here's a fun fact about this Lot...it doesn't have a traditional cork setup but actually has an old piece of wood wrapped with cork. I had a silver plate installed over that to give it a little better response.

@breakfastplan4518 2 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki Oh yes, that wood and cork solution is most certainly a piece of the puzzle. I had a similar stopper installed into my brannen headjoint and wow... Some newer tone colors appeared. the riser of the flute is gold so it was already a darker sounding flute. Its just that much moreso now. :)

@elizabethdore9005 2 года назад

It's super interesting to hear how focused the sound is in the Lot. Especially for a flute that is silver plated. Just goes to show the quality that was put in to these instruments and how the materials aren't the end all, be all in an instrument's tone. Also I couldn't remember the Brahms' symphony name to save my life today, and then I found this video! Lol

@MommaCC 4 года назад

Like many of the comments already posted, I like the sound from the Lot. Nice playing, very impressive comparison.

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

Glad you liked it!

@jamescairns6912 Год назад

Louis Lot ALL the way. Colour and intonation was much nicer to the ear !

@Xingqiwu387 3 года назад

I definitely prefer the sound of the older Louis Lot flute! Gorgeous tone!

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

👍👍

@아카네-x1o 4 года назад

louis lot better then brannen flute

@菅原龍之介-b9d Год назад

Hi Lance! I loved the sound of both flutes but I kind of liked the Louis Lot over Brannen for its warmer and sweet tone. I’m play Yamaha 894 Bijou which I think was only available in Japan and sounds a bit like your Lot, but yours is much better including technique, haha Thanks for the very interesting comparison!

@houtblazer 3 года назад

The Lot seems to have more focus in its sound. It has a great tone of course. Though I must say I also like the lightness of tone of the Brannen 10K, I also saw your comparison with the 10/85 Brannen. That tone I found to be to heavy for my taste. I play a vintage 14K Armstrong Heritage Thinwall myself.

@zoomboy57 3 года назад

Excellent presentation. I listened to this without watching for initial impressions and made notes. I could tell the issues when it came to the E on down but I must say the Lot had a more pure sound to me, not as powerful but more finesse like a manual transmission on a classic Ferrari compared to one with paddle shifters

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Great analogy!

@enildemday5294 4 года назад

The Louis Lot flute have more personality in the sound and is less neutral. Surprisingly I felt the Lot flute warmer in the low register. The Brannen flute seems to also resist more to the vibrations and you play loud because it's in gold. But it's sound even if it's a great flute is less original.

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

I totally get what you're saying. I have always loved the sound quality of old flutes and used to play on a 1945 Powell as my primary instrument. However, for consistency and ease of playing, I have moved to modern instruments. There are often sacrifices in the character of the sound. Hopefully I will figure out how to put more character into the gold modern flute!

@armenvondoms1815 3 года назад

Gotta go with the Lot. What a flute! Probably the closest thing one could get to the Theobald Boehm patent from 1847.

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

The Lot is a great flute and piece of history. Thanks for watching!

@absidyabsidy2727 3 года назад

They’re both beautiful instruments, but unpopular opinion: the Brannen blows the Lot out of the water - much more versatile and powerful. Lots (along with vintage Haynes and Powell) can produce a wonderful and charming set of colors, but modern flutes are absolute powerhouses. If I could only have one (between a vintage and comparable modern), I’d pick the modern every time. Over a century of improvement to the Boehm design along with all of the conveniences of a pinless mechanism and scale improvements makes it a non-contest for me.

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Agreed. Having played on a vintage (1945) instrument as my primary for many years, I find the sound of older instruments absolutely charming. However, when I need reliability and projection, modern instruments make it so much easier. Thanks for watching and for your thoughtful comment!

@임항진-o8q 4 года назад

Louis lot -- very good

@fltwwq Месяц назад

Great job on both flutes! Sure, of course the Brannen enjoys modern technology by leaps and bounds. But to me sound is everything and I would relish the chance to play this Louis Lot. Thank you!

@mncjeff 4 года назад

I was utterly surprised by how much projection came across from the Louis Lot flute, wasn’t expecting that. You could tell and hear from the Brannon flute tone quality was more even, and yes, I heard you struggle at the low register’s Louis Lot, but you nailed it: excellent job!

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

I was surprised as well when I listened back. Thanks for watching!

@gigimitchell-velasco4346 Год назад

Lot HANDS DOWN! I have played one for years! I studied with an Englishman and they all play them! I am struggling now to find a flute that I like better as I haven't practiced in years, but I still love my Lot the best no matter what I try out to play! You sounded much better on the Lot...and yes it sounds like a "cotton ball" up close but in a live space, not where you did this video, it's a GORGEOUS sound! Bravo for doing this! I enjoyed your playing!

@replactia 4 года назад

ルイロットも非常にいい音してますね。比較、ありがとうございます!

@heidifluteatl 3 года назад

I thought the Brannon definitely had the new open sound that is popular right now I also thought that it seemed like the dynamics were much more evident with the Brannon. I thought the Louie lot was beautiful but didn't project as well, and also the tone was a little more airy. But then again that's how flute sounded back then. It's hard to compare apples and oranges when they're so differently made even starting with the materials they're made of. One was gold and one was silver plate that makes a big difference. Either way you are a phenomenal flutist and sound absolutely gorgeous on both of them

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Thanks so much, Heidi! Agreed on every comment on the qualities of these instruments. A lot of people still love that Lot sound. However, to navigate the modern world, I personally need that modern sound and scale to make it work.

@allangarcia5886 Год назад

I think the Louis Lot flute is sweeter despite being more difficult like you say. A cotton ball.

@fingerhorn4 Год назад

The modern instrument is hands down better, as it not only has more power and projection in all ranges but can produce just as sweet a tone when needed as the Lot. It would be extraordinary if that were not the case. Flutes are not like violins - they do not "improve" with age and there is no golden age of flute making in the same way. But like most instruments, the quality of sound resides more in the player than the instrument. A great player would produce a better sound on the Lot than an intermediate player on the most expensive modern flute.

@CHPKI 4 года назад

I love your sound on the LOT a lot!

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

Thanks so much! I need to do more practicing on that flute. It is a gem!

@laltrapartedelmondo3965 4 года назад

Lot! Lot! Lot!!!!

@mortenclausen5800 3 года назад

Thank you, Lance. That was very interesting!! I wonder when the change in sound happened in flute history...? Was it a gradual development or did it happen with certain flutes or makers? I am playing a 1958 Haynes, open holes, and to me it sounds more like the Lot than the Brannen. And the scale is certainly pre Cooper 😆

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Thanks, Morten! One of my previous flutes was a 1945 Powell so I am definitely familiar with flutes of that era. I love the sound of these instruments and I think there are a few main things that contribute to the unique sound. 1. WEIGHT. In general, flutes have been trending heavier. 2. SCALE (as you mentioned). Scale can contribute to timbral qualities. 3. HEADJOINT CUTS. In general, embouchure holes have trended larger and squarer. I think these changes have happened gradually but seem to be present across the board in modern flutes. Thanks so much for watching and for your comment!

@mortenclausen5800 3 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki Thank you for sharing your knowledge in your detailed answer!

@AndrewEdwardsFlute 3 года назад

The Lot embouchure appears to have been bushed. Very likely nothing like its original state now.

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Very interesting. Why do you think so?

@AndrewEdwardsFlute 3 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki It looks to be visible on either side of the hole. No doubt I could be mistaken, but a mirror put into the tube to look at the underside of the hole would no doubt reveal the truth.

@thenewhindemithians8629 3 года назад

Lot flute has sweeter tone.

@fidesquaerensintellectum9230 3 года назад

Ben fatto, bravo, Lance! A phantastic video for any flutist with a particular interest in historical development of flutes and the great makers.

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Thanks so much, Wolfgang, for watching and for your comment! ❤️

@pragueprague1557 4 года назад

What if you exchange the headjoint? I feel that the brannen is big sound but at the same time sound emptier (a bit) . What about the 1980s flutes. For instance Haynes, Powell, Brannen at that time. I think the style of the headjoint cutting change overtime from 1980 till now. Now is more big sound but mellower, before is sweet and more project easily.

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

I would have loved to exchange the headjoints, but they didn't fit unfortunately. Thanks for watching!

@max_macht_photos 5 месяцев назад

How expensive was the Louis Lot?

@LanceSuzuki 5 месяцев назад

I would love to know as well! It is on loan to me from a family friend.

@aensti9077 3 года назад

I am glad flutes got improved with time...more powerful, more possibilities...

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Indeed! I'm also amazed by how much they were able to accomplish back then with such limited technology. The flute is still around and still plays, so the manufacturing was obviously top notch for the time.

@aensti9077 3 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki True!!!

@Frederer59 2 года назад

Thank you for this, you play beautifully. A great teacher commented that the adjustments needed on old scale flutes makes the player more flexible. I would love hear these flutes with wooden heads. The problem for me is that now that I play a Yamaha 874W and I can't easily switch to a silver head because of the diameter difference. With some slight tenon adjustment, the wooden head also fits my Yamaha 677 silver body. It's fun to contrast wood and silver bodies but I can't switch heads easily because of the diameter difference. The wooden head on the silver body is wonderful.

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

Hi Fred, Thanks for you comment. I agree that wooden heads sound great on silver bodies. I hope you can find one that fits your Yamaha. I'm sure it must be possible! Lance

@Frederer59 2 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki Hi again, I also a have a pre-owned Rodger Young chote vega wood head. Very different from the Yamaha but very nice too. Another interesting point is that the Young tenon was I think .14 and the barrel and the Yamaha silver is I think .16. The seller just put a piece of that new silver tape on the Young and it fits both flutes easily without taking the tape off. So, for people buying used and find a head a head they want to buy or want the head to be interchangeable with another flute, it's very easy and safer to add tape rather than reduce with force. I can just squeeze the Yamaha wood head into the 677 after a repairman had to be very careful. I bet adjusting the tenon on a wooden head is risky business. That silver tape is fantastic! So, in the end both heads fit both flutes.

@coryholland1811 Год назад

The Brannen to me is more powerful and certainly louder, bolder. The Lot, has a very pretty tone, very centered. In a modern setting, the Brannen wins, but for sheer 'flutiness' I go for the Lot. Thanks for your video.

@robertpayne5233 10 месяцев назад

This was fun to watch. I liked the sound of the Brannen best. It doesn't seem unreasonable that improvements to the flute would be made over the years.

@witneyskye5556 2 года назад

Both flutes have their merits, but I would choose Louis Lot. The tone is warmer, more colourful and has that old-world quality.

@grimjim100 3 года назад

With a Louis Lot you must not blow hard! Let it sing by its self and get it retuned by an expert, the tuning is way out! A modern flute plays itself!

@kerrib1474 3 года назад

For me the 2019 flute sounded much better. More richness and more depth if that makes sense,

@itistheflute5873 4 года назад

Hello Lance, very interesting what you did here! The Louis Lot has definitely a better projection here. And i am telling you this, not only because I hear it strait away, but because I have been playing one myself for years. They just have that "core sound" that it`s build from the bottom up (so to speak), and does not come from blowing over a sharp edge. But the embouchure holes and their shapes, under - and overcutting etc. is a chapter on it`s own and would fill a page here... ;-). There is no doubt, that the mechanism is a totally different chapter these days, than what it was back in 1892 or so. Today`s flutes "go almost by themselves"! But ..., I have a suggestion: try to play the Louis Lot every day for about 4 - 6 hours for say, 2 to 3 weeks ONLY! And see what happens! When you hit that so called "sweet spot", and you become more and more familiar with the Lot, you will be experiencing incredible tone colours and a sound that you wouldn`t have believed were possible. But... it needs a fair bit of work and commitment. After all, the great Fernand Dufrene played his Louis Lot # 9402 all his life in the French National Orchestra. But what a sound, what a sonority, what a projection; get a taste of it from one of a few rare RU-vid clips. Wishing you all the very BEST!

@LanceSuzuki 4 года назад

Thanks so much for watching! I do love old flutes and I think you're 100% correct that I need to spend more time with the Lot to really get to know it. Maybe that is a good future video project!

@Dadaist2003 Год назад

4-6 hours? Isn’t that just extremely excessive, probably very inefficient and labour intensive way to practice? Good luck getting tendonitis and feeling physically sick

@ab-zg8pt 2 года назад

So this is what a Lot sounds like ❤❤❤

@maxrkmrose Год назад

Very nice on both flutes! A true artist knows how to make any flute sound excellent. I have a 1927 Haynes commercial, closed hole, c-foot, I love to play it as my go to flute for playing for fun / read that as I don't baby it like I do my Powell. However, the Haynes has its shortcomings and does not play like butter like my Powell Conservatory does nor does it do harmonics so well. The Haynes like the Powell will take all the air you want to give it but the Powell has the potential to be a lot louder. Also, the third register is not as strong on the Haynes giving it that old-world sound. Modern flutists play differently than they did back at the turn of the 20th century and to me are more aggressive, use purple sounds for the first register, etc. Like the flute, the flutists have evolved. The Lot flute is incredible and it's interesting that it was open-holed.

@LanceSuzuki Год назад

Some of those commercial Haynes and Powell’s are true gems. You’re very fortunate to have one! I love the visualization of “purple” sound and will continue to ponder on that today. Thanks!

@robertelam6436 2 года назад

OMG , I was born on Jan.23rd sixtysome years later , the Louis Lot is still working it's 120 some years old !

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

I’m Jan 20! It is truly amazing how long these instruments can last if well cared for.

@copenh21 Год назад

Love your channel. It amazes me that many people say that they would prefer the old flute after what you convey in your impressions of playing both of them in the end. No player would want to play and practice on a flute that sounds (to the player) like playing through a cotton ball and that is hard to get a good sound from in the low register. Not saying that it wouldn't be nice to have an antique flute in one's collection of course.

@LanceSuzuki Год назад

LOL. People are entitled to their opinions. I think this flute is a beautiful piece of history and I love playing on it occasionally. However, I wouldn't be able to do so professionally without some significant work (moving tone holes, etc.). Thanks for watching!

@joemagnets9940 Год назад

When comparing one instrument to another, unless you are right in front of the test, IN PERSON, it depends on what kind of speakers or their size, will give a distorted impression of what the actual sounds of those instruments being tested are making. Naturally if you are recording those sounds, it's probably best to listen those instruments through the equipment that will be used to play those recordings and decide for yourself, which one sounds more of what is expected of those instruments..

@Jenifer.flute20 2 года назад

Can you provide insight on the boehm and mendler flutes? I see them for sale at places like flute center of New York and they're *so* expensive.

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

Hi Jenifer, I don't think I've ever tried a Boehm or Mendler. However, I do have a fondness for antique flutes. I used to play on a 1945 Powell which I loved! The antiques can get very expensive when they get into the realm of collectible.

@breakfastplan4518 2 года назад

I feel every serious flutist should at least own 1 Louis Lot flute. It gives you serious 'perspective' regarding the progression of the flute. Also, you find that there are some things it does significantly better than even the most modern flute. Even a silver plated Louis Lot flute has a certain 'shimmer' or 'ring' that even modern plated flutes do not have.

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

Absolutely!

@dasteufelhund 3 года назад

Sounds like you are playing the Lot as if you want to get the sound on Brannen from the Lot. I can't say Lot sounded better, but the Brannen sounded smoother and offered more overtone.

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

I do my best to just play the way that I play. I'm not consciously trying to make one flute sound like the other. However, the way the flute takes my air will affect how I approach it. Thanks for watching and for your comment!

@dawnhirsh6263 3 года назад

Lovely. Thank you for the demonstration. Lovely flutes. Lovely player!

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

Thanks so much, Dawn! I'm glad you enjoyed!

@jayemarsh6231 3 года назад

Give me a Louis Lot every time! This is why I like m Altus, they’ve been trying to match that LL sound all along!

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

True! Altus must be a great fit for you!

@MrJbchocolate 3 года назад

Lous Lot wins

@wallacea-nyc.4300 3 года назад

Thank you for the Video. their size seams to be diferent by how much?

@LanceSuzuki 3 года назад

The modern flute is longer because it has an extra key (B foot) and is able to play lower. I would estimate that this adds about 1.5 inches to the length. Also, the modern flute has thicker tubing and a wider bore.

@LarryShone 2 года назад

You say that when playing the Lot flute you had a struggle to keep good intonation. Surely it would have been a fairer comparison if you didn't fight it but just played it as if it were the Brannen you were playing. That way the viewer could hear those differences you mentioned. Because to me they both sounded great!

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

I don’t think it’s a controversial statement to say that the scale on antique flutes is less in tune than on modern ones.

@LarryShone 2 года назад

@@LanceSuzuki true, but for those who have no idea what that means it would be a good demonstration to show it

@melcrose Год назад

The lot almost HAS to sound better when you compare the emb hole alone. Something that size is going to impossible to play completely focused. You could drive a truck through that thing. :)

@juswa3 3 года назад

sir do you have any old flutes there can you give me one ☹️ i wish i could have one ☹️

@rustydog1236 2 года назад

"Cotton ball" and "half step flat" (on some notes) on the Lot are gross exaggerations you really ought to retract.

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

My language might be a little colorful, but I don't think it's controversial to say that vintage flutes are less responsive/more resistant than modern flutes and that the scales of vintage flutes require much more adjustment by the player than modern. I say these things as a huge fan of vintage instruments.

@rustydog1236 2 года назад

@Lance Suzuki What you call "colorful" is liable to scare another generation of flutist into sending old flutes in for melt and missing the chance, experience, and pleasure of playing these old instruments.

@suzyinstitches273 2 года назад

I'm thinking the difference in material alone should make a substantial difference in sound. Perhaps compare the vintage flute with a modern plated flute.

@LanceSuzuki 2 года назад

Good idea!

@coryholland1811 Год назад

I believe there have been acoustic studies that prove that the flute's material makes no difference. There was an item i read where William Bennett was said to have made a new flute about which all shown was very impressed. It was made from a melted down pot.

@suzyinstitches273 Год назад

@@coryholland1811 so, why do these comparisons?

@coryholland1811 Год назад

Fun. Curiosity. In the end it's all learning. Will Rampal's gold Lot sound different than the plated one? I play a Haynes but I still enjoy the comparison and contrast to the Artley Artist 'beater flute' I play outdoors. In the end it's all about learning and the joy of playing. Thanks for the reply Suzie.