About us
I started making musical spoons many years ago, with the invaluable help of my partner Denise Caron. Right from the start, traditional Quebec wooden spoons were my source of inspiration.
Caron L'Écuyer spoons
The use of spoons as musical instruments goes back a long way and can be found in many parts of the world. It seems to have always been very tempting, after a boozy supper and once the guests had had their fill, to bang the spoons against each other to obtain a sound, create a rhythm and celebrate. It wasn't until the handles of two spoons were joined together that they were able to move away from soup and become musical instruments in their own right.
Although their exact origin cannot be determined, spoons carved from a single piece of wood have been around in Quebec for "ages". They are easier to hold than separate spoons, and prolonged use is less injurious to the fingers than metal spoons. It also goes without saying that the sound of wooden spoons is much more warmer and enveloping...
Although their exact origin cannot be determined, spoons carved from a single piece of wood have been around in Quebec for "ages". They are easier to hold than separate spoons, and prolonged use is less injurious to the fingers than metal spoons. It also goes without saying that the sound of wooden spoons is much more warmer and enveloping...
Veillée d'autrefois, Edmond-J. Massicotte, 1915
Right from the start, traditional Quebec wooden spoons were my source of inspiration. The wood I use comes from a forest not far from my workshop. There I find several species of trees whose wood can be advantageously used to make musical spoons.
This forest is part of Éco-corridors Laurentiens, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the forest environments of my region. So I make it a point of honor to only harvest the few trees necessary for crafting the spoons. I always prefer to choose trees that have been broken or uprooted by the wind, and which offer wood of as fine a quality as healthy trees.
This forest is part of Éco-corridors Laurentiens, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the forest environments of my region. So I make it a point of honor to only harvest the few trees necessary for crafting the spoons. I always prefer to choose trees that have been broken or uprooted by the wind, and which offer wood of as fine a quality as healthy trees.
What matters most to me in my work is the satisfaction of producing musical instruments of high technical and sonic quality, while creating designs with graceful lines and pleasing aesthetics. All my spoon models are original creations, handcrafted here in my workshop, near the Lake of Two Mountains, northwest of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
I am a professional member of the Conseil des Métiers d'Art du Québec (CMAQ) as well as the Conseil de la Culture des Laurentides (CCL).