B-flat clarinet – LAFLEUR & SON
Joseph-René LAFLEUR (1812-1874) was considered to be one of the best bow makers in Paris where he had a music shop. Among his clientele was the French violinist, conductor and composer, Jules Prudence RIVIÈRE (1819-1900), who had settled in London in 1857 and fortunately for Joseph-René had learned to speak fluent English!
We can discover some interesting details on the Lafleurs through a book published in 1893 by our Jules Rivière entitled ‘My musical life and recollections’. It seems that two of Joseph-René Lafleur’s sons really didn’t get along and he wanted to retire. His idea was that his eldest son Alphonse LAFLEUR (1839-1895) (godson of Jules Rivière) should continue with the Paris business, while the younger, Edouard Victor LAFLEUR (1841-??) could run a business branch for music publishing and musical instruments in London. It is thought that the instruments were all imported – from France and Belgium.
So, in 1860, he went to London and asked his old friend Jules Rivière to help. Jules Rivière agreed and found a new property at 15, Green Street where he set up the business Rivière & Lafleur with the name ‘Alliance Musicale’ for a monthly band-related publication and the company. The agreement was that he should manage the firm and support Edouard Lafleur for five years until 1865. The business went well, but Edouard Lafleur was a rebel and disappeared, without warning or trace. He had joined the British navy and not only that, had deserted the ship in the Canary Islands and hidden himself away. His father came to the rescue and managed to bring his son back to England. What happened to him later or when he died is unclear.
Jules Rivière then went into business with Hawkes & Co to form Rivière and Hawkes. The Lafleur company would become Lafleur and Son, then in 1880, J.R. Lafleur & Son. Edouard or Edward Lafleur’s fate is not clear, but a successor was named as John URICH in some newspapers of the time (1889). He was a composer and musician, living at the company addresses in Green Street. Then it was eventually taken over in 1917 by Oliver HAWKES (1861-1919) and became J.R. Lafleur & Son Ltd. The brand Lafleur would be used for several years to come by what was then BOOSEY & HAWKES.
If we check the makers stamps, we date this instrument to between 1862 and 1880. The 15 Green Street in Leicester Square, London was one of the company addresses between 1862 and 1911.
This Boehm system clarinet is crafted in palisander wood with nickel silver keys. It does have a mouthpiece, but we don’t think it is original.