Isn´t she lovely?

Martin · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 6:22 am Post subject:

Look at that - an Eb flugel by Courtois (no, I´m not involved in the sale at all, just fascinated):

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2571914125&category=16214

Cute, isn´t it? Anybody ever played one of these?

I imagine the tuning tendencies of a flugel combined with those of an Eb soprano instrument could turn out to be a real nightmare if the maker doesn´t know exactly what he´s doing...
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All the best

Martin
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"I have found that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played." - Arvo Pärt

David · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Nov 2002 Posts: 379

You must know our horns - my German is pretty rusty, but I don't see a reference to Eb anywhere. I wonder what it sounds like - in the ball park of a Bb cornet?

I checked the Courtois website and it doesn't list this horn - either it is out of production or special order.
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Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig.

_swthiel · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 2:01 pm Post subject:

Mein Deutsch ist nicht gut, aber ...

"Courtois Es-Flügelhorn. Rarität. Top Zustand." =

"Courtois Eb Flugelhorn. Rarity. Top Condition."

I think the text also refers to the instrument as a soprano flugelhorn.

All ist klar?

Steve
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Steve Thiel

Matthew 25:31-46

trumpetmike · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:22 am Post subject:

Steve - from my very limited knowledge of German it seems like you have solved that little puzzle.
I have only played one Eb flugel - one of Andy Taylor's, gorgeous little instrument - wish I could justify buying one!

Martin · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:39 am Post subject:

Congrats, Steve,

your German is pretty good!

Here´s the full translation:
"Vintage silver plated soprano Flügelhorn from the leading maker Antoine Courtois, Paris, in very good condition. Very interesting collector´s item since these are no longer in production. Beautiful mellow sound in the high register to add to any brass ensemble. No mouthpiece."

Sorry, should have thought of that earlier...

_________________
All the best

Martin
_____________________________________________________________________
"I have found that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played." - Arvo Pärt

samlg · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:46 am Post subject:

selmer makes one though i have never seen or played one. i wonder how they realy play? the tuning on a Bb flugel stops at about A. hmmmm pretty little things though, i wonder why he bought it!?!?

http://www.selmer.fr/html/english/cuivre/cuis/cui11/cui11.htm

have fun, sam

trumpetmike · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:30 pm Post subject:

Sam - "I wonder why he bought it"

I have a couple of possible answers for you - firstly - he didn't already have one! That seems to be the case with many of the instruments some people (including me sometimes!) have. OK, I might only use this instrument once in my life, but for that one time, it is a necessary purchase (well, that's what we tell the wife, girlfriend, bank manager - whichever one objects the most!!).

The second (and more probable, in my opinion) answer is that he used it in a Fanfare Orchestra. These (if one of our Dutch THers wants to correct me on this, feel free) are, from what I have seen, quite a common style of band in Holland, combining together the saxophone family with the brass. Quite often, when you purchase wind band pieces (in Europe anyway) along with the regular parts you can get fanfare parts that replace the instruments that are missing from the wind band lineup as we know it. This usually includes an Eb cornet or flugelhorn.
Having just consulted a CD of the Fanfare Orchestra of the Netherlands (amazing group, well worth searching out the CD), the lineup has 5 saxes (sop, 2 altos, tenor, bari), Eb cornet, 7 flugels, 2 trumpets, 2 cornets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, 3 euphs Eb & Bb bass. When talking to Andy Taylor about his Eb flugel he said it was for the European market.

I'm now getting tempted to place a bid, why do people keep putting Ebay links on TH??????

samlg · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:30 am Post subject:

cheers mike,

makes sense realy, i knew that some bands in europe played on flugels over other instruments, just didnt click! theres a piece that a lecturer at college bought for our brass choir that had parts for six flugels doubling on trumpets as well as euphs. crazy!

have fun, sam

Martin · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 2:15 am Post subject:

trumpetmike · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:04 am Post subject:

Well, that one has now gone beyond what I would be willing to pay for it.

One more instrument saved from the glare of the bank manager!

trombapaul2 · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:43 am Post subject:

trumpetmike,

You need to justify buying one? Justification goes against the very nature
of being a trumpeter. You need it because you don't have one.

Paul
_________________
"NEVER practice...ALWAYS perform" (Bud)

"NEVER look at the trombones...it only encourages them" (R. Strauss)

"What the hell does sound have to do with music?" (Charles Ives)

trumpetmike · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:57 am Post subject:

For some strange reason my bank manager just doesn't see it like that!

I am trying to persuade him that it is a worthwhile investment (a complete set of Blackburns, Yamaha, Monette, Eclipse, Lawler, Taylor, and more!!!!!!!), but he keeps saying that I should go out and earn more money before purchasing anything else!

Maybe I should offer him lessons??

Then he might see things my way