Novel Flugelhorn
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Just wanted everyone here to know that there is a new, very novel and very versatile flugelhorn out there... the BONONIA by Iliev Brass Music in Bulgaria.
Nikolay Iliev is a well-versed trumpet professional currently doing great work in getting disadvantaged kids off the streets and into his wind band project at the school he is working at as Head of Music... his work in repairing the instruments donated to this school for his kids to continue playing has made him into a respectable instruments craftsman, and combining his life-long experience as a professional with ideas he picked up from all over the place led him to develop a new flugelhorn which is intended to be the answer to a multitude of questions in the flugelhorn world...
The BONONIA flugelhorn is a high-riding, "wrong-way-round" flugelhorn (somewhat like some ideas of Ray Farr) which allows the bell to swing freely except for a couple of stays for stability. The right hand is supported by an extra bit of tubing carrying a pinkie ring that can be swapped for an attached hook, and the distance from valve block to hook/ring can be easily adjusted. The leadpipe can currently take two different mouthpiece receivers - one for a normal small shank flugelhorn mouthpiece, and one that accepts both trumpet and alto horn mouthpieces. There will be additional mouthpiece receivers for French Horn mouthpieces and for small shank trombone mouthpieces.
I have test-driven the prototype, and came to the following conclusion:
The BONONIA flugelhorn is of outstanding consistency. With a flugelhorn mouthpiece, all registers up to double C are within easy reach and really consistent, with slotting being very precise while still allowing for some leeway. It is veerycomfortable to hold as you can easily rest your left elbow on your hip while playing... a very good fixture for those long gigs.
With a flugel mouthpiece, sound is as it should be - warm and cuddly, while always ready to strip paint if required. With a trumpet mouthpiece, the upper register becomes even easier to reach and the sound goes in the direction of a slightly brash rotary flugelhorn. And with an alto horn mouthpiece, you get the feeling of a really plushy comfort blanket or cuddly toy while barely compromising on the high register. A well-balanced sound.Here is a video of the BONONIA flugelhorn, in all of its currently possible configurations:
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And Nikolay also provides a very good traditionally-styled student flugelhorn, the DUNONIA model. Here is a demo video:
