Besson Eb Flugelhorn
This is another instrument from Boyde Hood's collection. Until he
mentioned it recently, I had forgotten that I had sold it to him about
10 years ago. Boyde tries to use as many of his (many)
instruments in performance as he can. While in the Los Angeles
Philharmonic trumpet section, he wouldn't have opportunities to
play interesting antiques such as this, but in his capacity as trumpet
teacher at USC, he enjoys sharing such things with his students.
He has used this soprano flugelhorn in recitals there.
This instrument was made in about 1885 and Besson had probably
been making similar Eb flugelhorns since the 1860s and continued
at least into the first quarter of the twentieth century. It is 12 9/16"
long with the mouthpiece removed (11 9/16" from bell rim to
curve), the bell rim diameter is 4 9/16" and the bore measures
.397". It is well known that the French style flugelhorn, so popular
in jazz music since the 1960s, is a direct descendant of the Bb
contralto Saxhorn as made by Adolphe Sax and most other French
makers. Early Bb Saxhorns with bells front are very similar in
dimensions to modern flugelhorns that continue to be made by
most makers today. Interestingly, the Eb soprano flugelhorns are
entirely a different breed from the original Eb soprano Saxhorns.
The latter were about the same bore measurement through the
valves, but were much wider through the bell flare. The photo to
the left shows an original "Petit Saxhorn" made in the 1840s.
American makers continued making sopranos of similar proportions
into the 1870s when they were replaced by Eb cornets. The effect
of this instrument is more cornet like, without the shrill sound often
associated with the Eb soprano cornet. Standard French military
band arrangements from the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries called for "petit bugle Mib" along with two Bb flugelhorns
and two Bb cornets. The last illustration to the right shows the
flugelhorns that were available from Besson in 1910. The Eb
soprano had not changed in more than 25 years.
Click on images for larger views.
mentioned it recently, I had forgotten that I had sold it to him about
10 years ago. Boyde tries to use as many of his (many)
instruments in performance as he can. While in the Los Angeles
Philharmonic trumpet section, he wouldn't have opportunities to
play interesting antiques such as this, but in his capacity as trumpet
teacher at USC, he enjoys sharing such things with his students.
He has used this soprano flugelhorn in recitals there.
This instrument was made in about 1885 and Besson had probably
been making similar Eb flugelhorns since the 1860s and continued
at least into the first quarter of the twentieth century. It is 12 9/16"
long with the mouthpiece removed (11 9/16" from bell rim to
curve), the bell rim diameter is 4 9/16" and the bore measures
.397". It is well known that the French style flugelhorn, so popular
in jazz music since the 1960s, is a direct descendant of the Bb
contralto Saxhorn as made by Adolphe Sax and most other French
makers. Early Bb Saxhorns with bells front are very similar in
dimensions to modern flugelhorns that continue to be made by
most makers today. Interestingly, the Eb soprano flugelhorns are
entirely a different breed from the original Eb soprano Saxhorns.
The latter were about the same bore measurement through the
valves, but were much wider through the bell flare. The photo to
the left shows an original "Petit Saxhorn" made in the 1840s.
American makers continued making sopranos of similar proportions
into the 1870s when they were replaced by Eb cornets. The effect
of this instrument is more cornet like, without the shrill sound often
associated with the Eb soprano cornet. Standard French military
band arrangements from the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries called for "petit bugle Mib" along with two Bb flugelhorns
and two Bb cornets. The last illustration to the right shows the
flugelhorns that were available from Besson in 1910. The Eb
soprano had not changed in more than 25 years.
Click on images for larger views.
