This year, we’ll be celebrating (drumroll, please) 50 years of making flutes! Since that’s a bit of a milestone, it feels like a good time to pause and reflect on instruments and the hands that make them...
(Left to right, Patrick, Aaron, Seth, and Matthew)
In writing this, I want to shine the spotlight on my son Aaron, who first apprenticed with me as a lad and then when he had mastered the art and craft of flute-making, joined me as a partner in the business nearly twenty years ago. His dedication and skill have far surpassed any expectations I could have had, and from the first he approached the workbench with goodwill, a hunger to learn, and keen creativity. He and his brother Matthew grew up in the shop, whittling, tinkering, learning to use tools and do flute work, and also learning to play the flute and other instruments. Both of them, inquisitive by nature and beginning with an aptitude for tools and keen attention to detail, worked on flutes and other aspects of the business from the very beginning, and joined myself and their mother Rowena in a life of living, eating, and breathing music and the flutes we make.
Matthew (on left in the first two images) and Aaron (on left in the third)
Over the years, I’ve watched Aaron transform raw materials into artfully made instruments, infusing every one with his own creativity and precision. In 2006 with my blessing, he began making his own flutes from start to finish, and in recent years, he has made the majority of the keyed flutes that have come out of our workshop. Now, he continues to do the bulk of the keyed work and together we are training our two apprentices: Aaron's brother Matthew, and Seth Swingle. Aaron has also stayed true to the high level of quality that we strive for, while bringing fresh ideas and innovation to our work. He long ago earned my respect, trust, and confidence, but because we are an informal operation, there was never a graduation ceremony or an official recognition when Aaron finished his apprenticeship and joined me at the helm of the workshop. It’s long overdue perhaps, but this is a bit of a hat-tip to him for all he’s done.
When I started making flutes in 1975 it was on something like a whim and I had no idea it would become the focus of my life and livelihood, putting bread on the table and a roof over our heads for so many years, and allowing me to create a business that (with a bit of luck) will be in family hands for a long time to come. I've been thinking a lot about the the musical community that I am lucky enough to be part of and which is so important to my life as a craftsman and musician. The friendships, support, and inspiration have kept me motivated from day one, and the goodwill of our customers has always brought me much joy.
In the world of art and music, the myth of the “lone mad genius” is a powerful one, but the truth is that all creativity stems from something that has come before and is so often aided by the labor of others. We study the work of our predecessors and then see if we can add to that store of knowledge and expand it. This is what I did as I studied old flutes to learn how they were made, and it is with great joy that I see Aaron, Matthew, and Seth continuing that tradition. I have no doubt that they will keep the torch aloft and bright! I hope to make many more flutes before I go, but I’m also happy and grateful that there are skilled and capable hands to carry on the work.
Here’s to many more years and many more flutes...
-Patrick Olwell
(Patrick and Aaron at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville Virginia at the Christmas Market, and at an unknown festival gig.
Photos from c. 1987-1996 at a guess.)
Comments