| BruceLee
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Re: Your thoughts and input on the new flugels
« Reply #1 on: 10/10/2003 at 14:49:19 »
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Leigh,
Thankfully, Noel and Henry erased that memory for me, very nicely! As long as you and John don't decide to treat me with a duet one day, all will be well.
Regarding a Flugel, I'll kick this off:
Most players, almost across the board, want a dark sound on the flugel. The bell shape, and design of the flugelhorn characteristically give that sound, when matched with the right mouthpiece. Sometimes it's easier to tell someone what you don't want, rather than what you want.
I feel that copper bell, or red/or rose brass bells are overkill, when it comes to materials. The flugelhorn still needs to project, particularly in a Brass Band situation. I was unfamiliar with Brass Band instrumentation until I heard the Georgia Brass Band, at a recent Trumpetfest, in Atlanta. There is only "one" player on Flugelhorn, in a "traditional" Brass Band. That kind of took me by surprise.
Our flugelhorn sound "concept" is developed from artists that we have listened to. There seems to be a tremendous array of "acceptable" commercial sounds.
At the risk of sounding patronizing, I like Chuck Mangione's sound. He was the Jazz Ensemble Director at Eastman, when I was there. He has a clarity of sound that is pleasing to my ears. It's not what I would call a dark sound, but his sound certainly doesn't get lost in the "mix".
I do like the vertical slide versions of Flugel much better than the "trumpet wrap" versions.
Hope that this helps!
Bruce |