 A standard 3-valved B♭ flugelhorn | |
| Brass instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 423.232 (valvedaerophone sounded by lip vibration) |
| Developed | Early 19th century |
| Playing range | |
Written range: | |
| Related instruments | |
| Part of a series on |
| Musical instruments |
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Theflugelhorn (/ˈfluːɡəlhɔːrn/), also spelledfluegelhorn,flugel horn, orflügelhorn, is abrass instrument that resembles thetrumpet andcornet, but has a wider, moreconical bore.[1] Like trumpets and cornets, most flugelhorns are pitched in B♭, though some are in C.[2] It is a type of valvedbugle, developed inGermany in the early 19th century from a traditional English valveless bugle. The first version of a valved bugle was sold byHeinrich Stölzel inBerlin in 1828.[3] The valved bugle providedAdolphe Sax (creator of thesaxophone) with the inspiration for his B♭ soprano (contralto)saxhorns, on which the modern-day flugelhorn is modelled.[4][5]
The German wordFlügel meanswing orflank in English. In early 18th century Germany, a ducal hunt leader known as aFlügelmeister blew theFlügelhorn, a large semicircularbrass orsilver valveless horn, to direct the wings of the hunt. Military use dates from theSeven Years' War, where this instrument was employed as a predecessor of the bugle.[4]
The flugelhorn is generally pitched in B♭, like most trumpets andcornets. It usually has threepiston valves and employs the same fingering system as other brass instruments, although four-valve versions and rotary-valve versions also exist. It can therefore be played by trumpet and cornet players, although it has different playing characteristics. The flugelhorn'smouthpiece is more deeply conical than either trumpet or cornet mouthpieces, but not as conical as aFrench horn mouthpiece.
Some modern flugelhorns feature a fourth valve that lowers the pitch by aperfect fourth (similar to the fourth valve on someeuphoniums,tubas, andpiccolo trumpets, or thetrigger ontrombones). This adds a useful low range that, coupled with the flugelhorn's dark sound, extends the instrument's abilities. Players can also use the fourth valve in place of the first and third valve combination (which is somewhat sharp).
A compact version of the rotary valve flugelhorn is the oval shapedkuhlohorn in B♭. It was developed for the German Protestant trombone choirs.
A pair of bass flugelhorns in C, calledfiscorns, are played in theCatalancobla bands that provide music forsardana dancers.
The tone is fatter and usually regarded as more mellow and dark than the trumpet or cornet. The sound of the flugelhorn has been described as halfway between a trumpet and aFrench horn, whereas the cornet's sound is halfway between a trumpet and a flugelhorn.[6] The flugelhorn is as agile as the cornet but more difficult to control in the high register (from approximately written G5), where in general it locks onto notes less easily.
The flugelhorn is a standard member of theBritish-style brass band, and it is also used frequently injazz. It also appears occasionally inorchestral andconcert band music. Famous orchestral works with flugelhorn includeIgor Stravinsky'sThreni,[7]Ralph Vaughan Williams'sNinth Symphony,[8] andMichael Tippett's third symphony.[9] The flugelhorn is sometimes substituted for thepost horn inMahler'sThird Symphony,[10] and for the soprano Romanbuccine inOttorino Respighi'sPines of Rome. InHK Gruber's trumpet concertoBusking (2007) the soloist is directed to play a flugelhorn in the slow middle movement.[11] The flugelhorn figured prominently in many ofBurt Bacharach's 1960spop song arrangements. It is featured in a solo role inBert Kaempfert's 1962 recording of "That Happy Feeling". Flugelhorns have occasionally been used as the alto or low soprano voice in adrum and bugle corps.
Another use of the flugelhorn is found in the Dutch and Belgian "Fanfareorkesten" orfanfare orchestras. In these orchestras the flugelhorns, often between 10 and 20 in number, have a significant role, forming the base of the orchestra. They are pitched in B♭, with sporadically an E♭ soloist. Due to poor intonation, these E♭ flugelhorns are mostly replaced by the E♭ trumpet or cornet.
The 1996 filmBrassed Off features a flugelhorn performance ofRodrigo'sConcierto de Aranjuez, Adagio, as a key moment.[12] The solo is played by Paul Hughes.[13]
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Joe Bishop, as a member of theWoody Herman band in 1936, was one of the earliest jazz musicians to use the flugelhorn.Shorty Rogers andKenny Baker began playing it in the early fifties, andClark Terry used it inDuke Ellington's orchestra in the mid-1950s.Chet Baker recorded several albums on the instrument in the 1950s and 1960s.Miles Davis further popularized the instrument in jazz on the albumsMiles Ahead andSketches of Spain, (both arranged byGil Evans) though he did not use it much on later projects. Other prominent flugelhorn players includeDonald Byrd, Freddy Buzon,Freddie Hubbard,Tom Browne,Lee Morgan,Bill Dixon,Wilbur Harden,Art Farmer,Roy Hargrove,Randy Brecker,Hugh Masekela,Feya Faku,Tony Guerrero, Gary Lord,Jimmy Owens,Maynard Ferguson,Terumasa Hino,Woody Shaw,Bobby Shew,Guido Basso,Kenny Wheeler,Tom Harrell,Bill Coleman,Thad Jones,Arturo Sandoval,Lee Loughnane of the rock bandChicago,Roddy Lorimer of theKick Horns,Mike Metheny,Harry Beckett,Till Brönner andAck van Rooyen. Most jazz flugelhorn players use the instrument as an auxiliary to the trumpet, but in the 1970sChuck Mangione gave up playing the trumpet and concentrated on the flugelhorn alone, notably on hisjazz-pop hit song "Feels So Good". Mangione, in an interview onABC during the1980 Winter Olympics, for which he wrote the theme "Give It All You Got", referred to the flugelhorn as "the right baseball glove".[citation needed]
Pop flugelhorn players include Probyn Gregory (Brian Wilson Band), Ronnie Wilson ofThe Gap Band,Rick Braun,Mic Gillette,Jeff Oster, Zach Condon of the bandBeirut,Scott Spillane of the bandNeutral Milk Hotel,Terry Kirkman of the bandThe Association, Annie Chappell andRashawn Ross of theDave Matthews Band.Marvin Stamm played the flugelhorn solo on "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" byPaul andLinda McCartney.[14]
Classical flugelhorn players includeSergei Nakariakov and Kirill Soldatov.[15]
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